The motet cycles known as motetti missales are among the most intriguing repertoires of late-fifteenth-century polyphony. This series features a new critical edition of the six cycles by Loyset Compère, Gaspar van Weerbeke, and Franchinus Gaffurius included in the Milanese Libroni and of the two anonymous cycles transmitted in the Leopold Codex (Munich MS 3154). For the first time this corpus is presented with uniform editorial criteria, facilitating the comparison of mensural choices and other compositional strategies. Furthermore, the introduction of each volume thematizes the peculiar characteristics of each cycle, in terms of textual choices, use of preexisting material, and musical design, allowing for a new assessment of the motetti missales that goes beyond the homogenizing stereotypes of earlier literature and accounts for the individual contributions of the various composers. The editors’ insight in this repertoire is the result of two interdisciplinary research projects financed by the Swiss National Fund and carried out at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in 2014–21. The anonymous motet cycle Ave, Domine Iesu Christe, transmitted uniquely in Librone 1 of the Milanese Libroni, consists of eight motets for four and five voices on Christological texts; the first four, each of which begins with the words “Ave, Domine Iesu Christe,” take their text from a prayer to Christ popular in contemporary prayer books. Despite the anonymous transmission, several notable stylistic features of the cycle—including use of the technique of “split tenors”—suggest a possible attribution to Loyset Compère (ca. 1450–1518). All eight motets bear loco rubrics indicating their placement in the mass liturgy.

The motet cycles known as motetti missales are among the most intriguing repertoires of late-fifteenth-century polyphony. This series features a new critical edition of the six cycles by Loyset Compère, Gaspar van Weerbeke, and Franchinus Gaffurius included in the Milanese Libroni and of the two anonymous cycles transmitted in the Leopold Codex (Munich MS 3154). For the first time this corpus is presented with uniform editorial criteria, facilitating the comparison of mensural choices and other compositional strategies. Furthermore, the introduction of each volume thematizes the peculiar characteristics of each cycle, in terms of textual choices, use of preexisting material, and musical design, allowing for a new assessment of the motetti missales that goes beyond the homogenizing stereotypes of earlier literature and accounts for the individual contributions of the various composers. The editors’ insight in this repertoire is the result of two interdisciplinary research projects financed by the Swiss National Fund and carried out at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in 2014–21. The cycle Ave, mundi domina by Gaspar van Weerbeke (ca. 1452–1517) consists of eight four-voice motets on assorted Marian texts. All eight motets are preserved in Librone 1 of the Milanese Libroni (Gaffurius Codices), with two also appearing in Librone 2. Of all the surviving motetti missales cycles, Ave, mundi domina is the only cycle whose component motets can also be found in sources from outside Milan; particularly notable in this regard is its fourth motet, “Anima mea liquefacta est,” on a highly expressive text from the Song of Songs, which with seven concordant sources is not only the single most transmitted motet within the motetti missales repertory but also in Weerbeke’s entire output.

Venetian music print culture of the mid-sixteenth century is presented here through a study of the Scotto press, one of the foremost dynastic music publishers of the Renaissance. For over a century, the house of Scotto played a pivotal role in the international book trade, publishing in a variety of fields including philosophy, medicine, religion, and music. This book examines the mercantile activities of the firm through both a historical study, which illuminates the wide world of the Venetian music printing industry, and a catalog, which details the music editions brought out by the firm during its most productive period. A valuable reference work, this book not only enhances our understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural history of Renaissance Venice, it also helps to preserve our knowledge of a vast musical repertory.