Transcriptions

Transcribing music typically refers to the act of writing the notation for a piece of music that has no notation at all. In this case, transcription refers to the translation of compositions from archaic notation to modern notation.

Why bother with transcription at all? Much of medieval music is written in a variety of archaic notations that are unreadable by the vast majority of musicians. Essentially, this music is locked away and is inaccessible. By transcribing music to modern notation, I am able to make this music available and accessible. Please see my paper on music transcription: What is Music Transcription? And Why Does it Matter?

This is a collection of original manuscripts that I have transcribed. Each includes a PDF in modern notation, a MuseScore file for use with the MuseScore scoring software, and an mp3.

Adrian le Roy Book 3 Transcription and Bookbinding Project

I transcribed ten pieces of instrument specific 16th century French lute tablature into modern musical notation. All ten modern versions were then converted into commonly used 16th century music notation without compromising the original sound, arrangement, or style. In addition, the final 16th century musical transcriptions are printed, arranged and bound into a book crafted using materials and processes appropriate to the original artifact. Musical Transcription and Bookbinding Based on 16th Century Music Book

Adrian le Roy Book 1

Transcriptions of Adrian le Roy’s first book, Premier Livre de Tabulature de Guiterre.

Caravaggio

Transcription project for music shown in Caravaggio’s painting The Lute Player

Orphenica Lyra

Transcriptions and analysis of 5 course viheula / guitar music from Fuenllana’s Orphenica Lyra.

Saltarello La Regina

This piece is from the Additional Manuscript 29987 folios 62v – 63r. It is a very common piece heard in the SCA as an example of the saltarello dance form. This is the version that is commonly played and matches the SCA dance form. PDF | MuseScore | mp3

Saltarello II

Another very common piece heard in the SCA, Saltarello II is also from the Additional Manuscript 29987. It is commonly listed as being in folio 62v, however, the actual manuscript shows it in folio 63v. As with la Regina, there are many different variations. This is my arrangement based on both the original and several other versions. It is in the original key of Dm as shown in the manuscript. PDF | MuseScore | mp3

Lamento di Tristano

A beautiful lament from Additional Manuscript 29887 folio 64r. I directly transcribed this from the original source manuscript and validated against another modern transcription for accuracy. PDF | MuseScore | mp3

La Rotta

La Rotta is the after dance for Lamento di Tristano. It follows it immediately in Additional Manuscript 29987, and when combined with Lamento di Tristano, it forms a dance pair. The timings in the original do not appear to be consistent; I have slightly adjusted them in places to make them scan correctly. Also, there is what appears to be a note repeated in error, and possibly marked out, in the original manuscript. I have deleted it in this transcription. PDF | MuseScore | mp3