Anne Boleyn's Book

Anne Boleyn's Book

Anne Boleyn (ca. 1501-1536) is best known as the second wife of Henry VIII (1491-1547), Queen of England and mother of one of the greatest monarchs in English history - Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603). However, she received her broad courtly and cultural education in Flanders and France. At around the age of 12, she came to Flanders as a lady-in-waiting to Margaret of Austria (1480-1530), where her musical talent is said to have been discovered and encouraged. Margaret was patroness to some of the most significant European composers of the early modern period. Anne was later a member of the French royal court, where she served as lady-in-waiting to Claude de France (1499-1524) and Renée de France (1510-1574).

A Unique Collection of French Renaissance Music

It was during this time that most of the so-called Anne Boleyn's Book was written. It comprises 54 compositions by at least 13 different contemporary composers - including 39 religious Latin motets and 3 French chansons. Particularly fascinating and significant are the remaining twelve compositions that are not (certainly) attributed, eight of which have survived exclusively in this manuscript. As the initials of Anne's friend Margaret of Navarre (1492-1549) appear in one chanson, it is conceivable that she created one or more of the anonymous pieces, possibly even together with Anne. As the king's sister, Margaret was highly educated and surrounded herself with great Renaissance thinkers throughout her life. The future Queen of Navarre was not only known as a patron of the arts, but also as an author of poems, plays and ballads herself.

A Personal Playlist

With this compilation of contemporary musical art, which was perhaps enriched with Anne Boleyn's favorite compositions, she returned to England in 1521/22, bringing a piece of French culture with her. The fact that the manuscript was in her possession is evident from an inscription on fol. 79. This reads: “Mris A Bolleyne nowe thus”, and contains her father's motto as well as her designation as mistress, which is why it must definitely have been entered before 1529. As the codicological features of the manuscript clearly indicate that it was written in France, it is conclusive that Anne Boleyn already called it her own during her time at the French court. She was obviously very fond of the art it contained, as some of the pieces were performed at her coronation as Queen of England in 1533.

The Work of Many Hands

A total of four scribes were involved in compiling the manuscript, which takes the form of a choir book in which each voice is written down separately. Each page comprises two parts, each of which is introduced by a champie initial. While the first and largest portion was completed by two hands in France between 1505 and 1513, two further hands added individual pieces to the codex at later points in the 16th century. Some of these show English notation practices, which is why it is assumed that they were added during Anne's time in England. The fascinating manuscript was probably in Anne Boleyn's personal possession until the violent end of her life by beheading and delighted the cultivated music lover.