Anonymous Franco-Flemish (?): Bassadanza la Spagna (Part 2 of 3) (c.1490)

Описание: La Spagna. Part 2 of 3.

0:06 La Spagna #1 (cornetto, shawm, 2 trombones, drum)
1:50 La Spagna #2 (2 cornetti, 2 trombones, drum)

These two anonymously composed bassadanze were hand copied (perhaps by the Bolognese music director Giovanni Spataro) into a large volume of sacred and secular music by composers of different nationalities (French, Italian, Spanish and Flemish). A quick review of the authors named in the codex reveals that most were residing in Northern Italy at the end of the 15th Century. The intricate polyphonic interchange between the upper two voices in both bassadanze suggests a Franco-Flemish origin, but until other copies of the works can be found that can establish a definitive attribution, we will likely never know. In both pieces, the "Re di Spagna" cantus firmus can be found in the tenor voice.

Both MIDI files were compiled and uploaded to IMSLP.org by Ulrich Alpers. I used the MIDI editor Music Studio 2.0 on the iPhone to simulate instruments of the early Italian Renaissance. I also utilized the open source program for the PC Audacity to enhance the reverb and echo effects.

Description of the photos:

1. "La Spagna #1," superius line, Anonymous, Bologna Ms Q18
2. Aristocrats dancing the basse dance beneath the gallery musicians, from "Roman de Renaud Montauban – The marriage of Renaud and Clarisse" Loyset Liédet, BnF. Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal Ms-5073, c.1470
3. Angel playing trombone, detail from "Assumption of the Virgin," Filippino Lippi, c1494
4. Musicians at a wedding, detail from the Cassone (large casket) Adimari, Giovanni di Ser Vivanni, c1450
5. "La Spagna #2," superius line, Anonymous, Bologna Ms Q18
6. Dance at Herod's court, Israhel van Meckenem, c1490
7. Wedding festival in Verona, Piero Pozzi, c1430
8. Garden of Love and the Fountain of Youth, Cristoforo de Predis, c1470