- 807
Tudor Carol
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 USD
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Description
- Fragment of a mid sixteenth-century English musical manuscript, containing part of a carol, with refrain, written on printed music paper
- paper, ink, vellum
A setting of the words "[...] which desolatly, lefte here in wyldernes [a]lone/ Alone [alone] / Ye mothers that have chyldren borne," possibly a song for Holy Week, a single treble voice line notated in brown ink on four staves, and two staves on verso, also including a fragment of music notated in black ink on a mezzo-soprano clef, without text
Two pages, (c.110 x 135 mm), on printed music paper, remains of woodcut border to leading edge; incomplete, extracted from a book-binding, stitching holes and creasing affecting legibility, staining and dust-marking. Modern fitted cloth folder in a morocco-backed box,
Two pages, (c.110 x 135 mm), on printed music paper, remains of woodcut border to leading edge; incomplete, extracted from a book-binding, stitching holes and creasing affecting legibility, staining and dust-marking. Modern fitted cloth folder in a morocco-backed box,
Provenance
Sotheby's, 6 December 1991, lot 218. acquisition: Purchased at the above sale through Bernard Quaritch
Literature
Iain Fenlon and John Milsom, in Journal of the American Musicological Society, 38 (1984), p. 145, (especially table I); P. Beal & J. Griffiths, English Manuscript Studies, 1100-1700, volume 4 (1993), p. 292
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
This would appear to be the sole source for this mid sixteenth-century carol. There is a related song, "Alone in wilderness," dating from about 1520, in the British Museum, but it contains different music. The music paper is very similar to designs printed by Thomas East during the 1560s (see Fenlon and Milsom, 1984). Printed music paper holds a particular importance in Tudor music. In 1575, Tallis and Byrd were granted a patent to print music, but what they mostly issued was printed music paper. When Byrd came to have his Masses published, they were printed by Thomas East. We are very grateful for the kind assistance of Professor John Milsom in the cataloguing of this item.