Christ Church Library music catalogue: Mus. 1218(A-C)

Mus. 1218(A-C)

Manuscript. Complete set of three instrumental partbooks containing four unattributed single-key suites or 'sets' a3, and two canons; English, probably early 18th century. The partbooks bear the following designations: Mus. 1218(A): 'First Treble'; Mus. 1218(B): 'Second Treble'; Mus. 1218(C): 'Base'. These pieces probably formed part of the repertory of the Oxford city/university waits or 'musick'. The copyist, who appears also to have been the composer, has not been identified, and is here designated as 'Copyist Z'. Some of these works also exist in autograph scores and/or alternative sets of parts within the Christ Church collection; see Mus. 1126, sheets 13 and 13*; Mus. 1128, sheets 11-11*, 12, 13, 15, 19, 23 and 39; and (for further details) the entry for Mus. 34-6.

In the following inventory, sets in the same key are distinguished from one another by means of roman numerals (I, II, etc), continuing the numbering sequence begun in Mus. 34-6. Within each set, the number of movements is shown in round brackets: '(1-5)', etc. Instrumentation is specified only for the two canons.

Table of titles and composers in modern form. Display form found in manuscript.

		Mus. 1218(A)	Mus. 1218(B)	Mus. 1218(C)
1	Set in f minor/I (1-5)	ff. 1^r-2^r	ff. 5^r-6^r	ff. 9^r-10^r
2	Set in f minor/II (1-5); Second Treble part missing	ff. 2^r-v		ff. 10^r-11^v
3	Set in c minor/IX (1-4)	ff. 2^v-3^v	ff. 6^r-v	f. 11^r
4	Set in C major/VI (1-6)	ff. 4^r-v	ff. 8^r-v	ff. 12^r-v
5	Canon 1,'for Three Violins to be plaid in manner of a Catch or Canon in the Unison'	f. 4^v	f. 8^v	f. 12^v
6	Canon 2,'for Six Violin in Manner of a Catch or Canon'	f. 4^v

Oblong format, 415 x 280 mm. Each partbook comprises 4 single sheets, stab-sewn together; 12 folios in total. The partbooks were designated 'A-C' in June 2004, and the sheets foliated in a single sequence as '1-12'; these additions will not be present in microfilms made before that date. Unused ruled staves on ff. 7r-v and 11v. Each partbook is now sewn into a modern wrapper of thin card, and mounted impermanently on cords within an early 20th-century folder of stiff card and vellum. Formerly Mus. 1047 (see the printed label pasted to f. 12v).

Provenance: probably from the Goodson bequest, together with all other manuscripts related to Mus. 34-6 (q.v.).

Microfilm: manuscript music, reel 39.