Squarcialupi Codex II
Continuing our exploration of the Squarcialupi Codex (Florence, MS Mediceo Palatino 87) for a second series, in order to work with the remaining divisio of the Italian trecento notation: senaria perfecta, senaria imperfecta, and novenaria.
The Squarcialupi is an illuminated manuscript compiled in Florence in the early fifteenth century. It is named after the noted fifteenth-century organist Antonio Squarcialupi, who owned it.
The Squarcialupi Codex is the single largest primary source of secular polyphonic music of the trecento. It consists of 216 parchment folios, organized by composer, with each composer's section beginning with a portrait of the composer richly illuminated in gold, red, blue and purple. The illuminated portraits of the musicians are attributed to Lorenzo Monaco and his circle.
The notation used in the Squarcialupi Codex is a mix of French ars nova and Italian trecento notation, notated on a music staff with six lines. In this series, we are primarily focusing on pieces that are notated in trecento style notation. If you were not part of the previous series (Squarcialupi I in January/February of 2025), you can still join in, there will be some review of the basic trecento principles. This class is geared towards experienced players of early notation.
