[Motets by Josquin Desprez, Pieton, Paminger, and others.]
[Novum et insigne opus musicum: sex, quinque et quatuor vocum. [Bound with:] Secunda [-Tertia] pars magni operis musici. Nuremberg: J. Montanus & U. Neuber, 1558-1559.]
Extremely rare Altus part of a collection of motets, some composed by Josquin Desprez (c.1440-1521), 'The key figure in the development of the motet ... All the compositional solutions that had become traditional for the genre found a place in his works' (The New Grove, 12, p.632). The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek appears to hold only the Tenor and Vagans parts, with VD16 not recording any other parts, although the online-catalogue of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin suggests they might have a copy; the Library of Congress appears to have a complete copy of Altus parts.

Oblong quarto (153 x 194mm). 3 part-books only for Altus, 3 part titles with Altus printed within woodblock frame, woodcut initials (lacking leaves 2f2-3 and 2m3 in third part, leaf 2a4 in first part almost torn in two, a few wormholes at beginning with loss to a few letters, light staining and soiling throughout). Contemporary pigskin panelled in blind over wooden boards, with an outer frame comprised of a roll tool of Biblical scenes in compartments (lower corner of front cover chipped, splits to leather on lower board, defective remains of clasps, later repairs using tacks to secure the edges of the pigskin to the inner edges of the boards, somewhat soiled and wormed with small patch lost to worming on upper cover). Provenance: ink corrections on 2b4v in first part in an early hand. Sold as a collection of parts, not subject to return.

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