Chantilly Codex

Chantilly Codex

The so-called Chantilly Codex is one of the three main sources of ars subtilior, which is famous for its extremely complicated notation and the fine decoration that is found on some of the pages. Unlike most musical manuscripts from the period, most of the works are attributed to composers with only 34 anonymous pieces found in the manuscript. The 112 polyphonic songs in the manuscript consists of 70 ballads, 17 roundels, 12 virelais, and 13 isorhythmic motets. The 34 authors cited are: Baude Cordier, Johannes Haucourt, Matheus de Sancto Johanne, Petrus Fabri, Jacob Senleches, Jehan Vaillant, Solage, Guillaume de Machaut, Grimace, Magister Franciscus, Trebor, Magister Egidius Augustinus, Guido, Johannes Susay, Johannes Olivier, Philippus de Caserte, Johannes Galiot, Jehan Simon Hasprois, Garinus, Johannes Cunelier, Goscalch, Taillandier, Hymbert de Salinis, Johannes Cesaris, Rodericus, Johannes de Meruco, F. Andrieu, Pierre des Molins, Borlet, Pykini, Gacian Reyneau, Egidius de Pusiex, Philippe Royllart, J. Alanus.

An Italian Copy of a French Original

The large number of errors in the French text as well as in copying the scores indicates that this manuscript was copied from a French original by an Italian copyist who did not understand what he was copying. The texts were written down before the music, which creates a lag between the two. The decoration of the manuscript is left incomplete and blank spaces can be found where most of the initials should have been completed by an illuminator. Why the work was never completed remains unknown.

A Precious Discovery

An inscription on the title page from 1461 states the book was owned by the family of Francesco d'Altobianco Alberti, who had been banished from Florence in 1401 and lived for a long time in France. Exactly 400 years later, it was discovered in 1861 at the home of M. Bigazzi, secretary of the Accademia della Crusca, in Florence by Henry de Triqueti (1803–74) a French sculptor and enlightened amateur. Triqueti purchased the manuscript and adorned it with a frontispiece before donating it to the Bibliothèque du Château, Chantilly, after which it is named.