Vatican Manuscripts from the Cappella Sistina Fond

The Cappella Sistina, the papal choir named for Pope Sixtus IV, was established as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia to sing in the Cappella Magna, later Sistine Chapel. It containts 709 signatures, but only 708 elements. Of these 546 are musical works (402 are true manuscripts and 144, broken up into 206 signatures, are printed), an additional 101 items are archival materials, and the remaining are several catalogues.
Josquin des Prez served as choirmaster and composer at the end of the 15th C. It includes Capp.sist.611, a copy of the constitution explaining the responsibilities of the Sistine singers from 1545, the earliest copy of such a document ^2

To the right is f.2v from Capp.Sist.160 a book of polyphonic mass music, in mensural notation, written around 1515-1521. It was later presented to Pietro Ottoboni, whose personal library forms the Ottoboni fond

Sources

  1. Biblioteca apostolica vaticana. (2011). Guida ai fondi manoscritti, numismatici, a stampa della Biblioteca vaticana. Biblioteca apostolica vaticana. pp. 393-395
Capp.Sist.1 (Upgraded to HQ), Graduale (1634)
Incipit: Feria quinta in coena. Domini ad Matutinu[m]

Signed and dated in colophon on f.46r, scribe: Leopardus Antonotius

Capp.Sist.2 (Upgraded to HQ), Antiphonarium (1724)
Incipit: (f.3r) Feria .V. in cena D[omi]ni officiv[m] ad longv[m] ad matvtinv[m] in primo noctvrant

Written by Petrus Bastianellus de Treviniano

Capp.Sist.3 (Upgraded to HQ), Graduale (1539)
Incipit: Dominica de Passione statio ad sanctvm petrvm ad Missam introitvs

Signed and dated in colophon on f.142v, scribe: Galeatius Herculanus

Capp.Sist.4, Antiphonarium (16th C)
Incipit: (f.4r) In die nativitatis domini ad longvm. Rex pacificiis magnificatus est cuius

opens with the motto and arms of Clement VII. Scribe: Galeazzo Ercolano (signed and dated on f.114r). See Gualdi, Fausta. “Nuovi studi sull’attribuzione delle miniature del grande Antifonario di papa Clemente VII (Capp. sist. 4) e del Cerimoniale per l’incoronazione di Carlo V (Borg. lat. 420).” Miscellanea Bibliothecae Apostolicae Vaticanae XXVI. - ( Studi e testi ; 541), Biblioteca apostolica vaticana, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1400/280816. pp.143-185

Capp.Sist.5 (Upgraded to HQ), Graduale
Incipit: [I]n omnib[us] dominicis dieb[us] p[er] annum finita tertia a sacerdote celebraturo missam

Signed in colophon on f.207r, scribe: Petrus Barbo. Ex dono on f.219v, Archangelus Cribellino, 1602

Capp.Sist.6, Psalter (16th C)
Incipit: In d[omi]nus subsc[ri]-ptus scilicet
Capp.Sist.7, Antiphonal/Psalter: Ferial Vespers (16th C)
Incipit: Feria secu[n]da ad Vesperas Antiph. Inclinauit Dominus Euouæ
Capp.Sist.8, Graduale
Incipit: Dominica in Septvagesima ad missam introitvs. Circu[m]de-derunt
Capp.Sist.9, Antiphonal: Octave of Epiphany through Advent (16th C)
Incipit: In nomine domini Amen. Incipit secu[n]da pars Antiphonarii a primo Sabbato post octava[m] Epi-phanie usque ad Aduentum exclusiue. Ad uesp[er]a[s]

Has the arms of Pope Paul III at the bottom of f.1r

Capp.Sist.10, Antiphonal (16th C)
Incipit: Incipit commune s[an]c[t]orum s[ecundu]m ordine[m] romane curie. In fe-stiuitatibus apostolorum. Ad uesperas

Arms of Leo X at the bottom of f.2r

Capp.Sist.11, Antiphonarium, de Sanctis (1538)
Incipit: Incipit Antiphonarium festuum per anni circulum. In vigilia S. Andree apli.

Written by Frederico Mario Perugino for Pope Paul III

Capp.Sist.12 (Upgraded to HQ), Graduale: Advent through Palm Sunday (16th C)
Incipit: In omnibus dominicis siebus p[er] annum finita ter-tia. A sacerdote celebraturo missam
Capp.Sist.13, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1536-42 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.14, manuscript of polyphony (1472-81 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.15, composite of originally separate fascicles (c. 1495-1500 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.16 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1512-7 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.17, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1535-7 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.19, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1535-7 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.20 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (1539 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.21 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (1576 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.22 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1563-8 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.23 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1492-1512 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.24, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1538-50 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.25 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.26, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1515-21 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.27, Antiphonal (c. 1510)
Incipit: In nomine domini. Incipit antiphona-rium secundu[m] consuetudine[m] romane curie. In primo sabbato de aduentu.

Arms of Della Rovere at the bottom, made for Julius II, but arms were used by Sixtus IV as well. Only covers Advent through Octave of Epiphany. See Cantus

Capp.Sist.28, Graduale (1541)
Incipit: Spi-ritus do-mini repleuit

Covers Pentecost through 23 weeks post Pentecost. Decoration by Vincent Raymond

Capp.Sist.29, manuscript of polyphony (Late 16th century )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.30 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.31 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.33 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.34, manuscript of polyphony (1513-21 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.35, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1487-90 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.36, manuscript of polyphony (1513-21 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.37, Graduale (c. 1500-1515)
Incipit: Incipit Graduale secundu[m] consuedine[m] romane curie. Prima d[omi]nica de aduentu[m]. i[n]tro[it]. Ad te leua-ui anima[m] meam

With the arms of Julius II on f.1r

Capp.Sist.38, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1550-63 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.39 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1558-63 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.41, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1482-1507 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.42, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1503-12 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.44 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1503-12 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.45, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1511-4 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.46 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1508-27 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.49 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1492-1504 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.51, manuscript of polyphony (1472-91 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.54, Additions musicalesAuteurs latins (C. 1576-80)

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.55, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1515-27 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.56 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.57, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1535-77 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.58 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.59 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.61 (Upgraded to HQ), Cristobal de Morales manuscript of polyphony (Third quarter of 17th century )
Incipit: Magnificat. Anima mea Do-minum .ii. anima mea Dominum

See DIAMM, scribe: Horatius Felix

Capp.Sist.63, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1480-1507 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.64, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1538-76 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.67
Incipit: Nunc sancte nobis spiritus. unu[m] patri cum filio
Capp.Sist.68 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.69 (Upgraded to HQ), Vincentio de Grandis, Gregorii Allegri Hymns for the Feast of All Saints, Nativity, Epiphaniae, Trinity, Ascension, Pentecost (1629)
Incipit: (f.2v) Qvibus Patris clemen-tiam tu-æ Tribunal grati-

scribe: Horatius Felix

Capp.Sist.71 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.72 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (Late 16th-early 17th century )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.76, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1579-99 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.77 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1611-22 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.78 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.91, Theophilo Gargano (1620)
Incipit: (f.1v) Magnificat. Anima mea Dominu[m] Ani-ma mea Dominum

Scribe: Josephus Dosius Placentinus (signed on f.1r), in mensural notation

Capp.Sist.93 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.96 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.99 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.105 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.106 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.107 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.135 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.142 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.149, Palestrina Missa Confitebor tibi Domine a 8 (16th C, Mid)
Incipit: [] Petri Aloysis Prirestini Super Confitebor

Hand of Johannes Parvus Microfilm

Capp.Sist.150 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.152 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.153 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.154, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1543-60 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.155, manuscript of polyphony (c. 1538-60 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.158, Leander Piazza Office of the Dead (1792)
Capp.Sist.160, Jacobus Barbireau, Jacobus Obrecht, Josquin Despres, Pierre de la Rue, Jean Mouton, et al. manuscript of polyphony (1513-21 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.163 (Upgraded to HQ), Carpentras Polyphonic Lamentations (c. 1524-6 )
Incipit: (f.2v) Ad sanctissimvm maximvmq[ue] pont. Cleme[n]te VII. Elziarii geneti nomine vvlgo nv[n]cvpati carpentras capelle pontificie olim magi-stri epigramma

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.165 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.166 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.169 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.171, Josquin de Sala, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Agostino Agazzari Missa Ave Regina Coelorum, Missa Laudate Dominum, Missa (1601-1650)
Incipit: Primi Chori Cu[m] octo voc[e]. Iusquin de sala.

Part of a set with Capp.sist.172, both with the same pieces, this for the first of the two choirs. Originally made for the Collegio Teutonico. See O'Regan, T., & O'Regan, T. N. (1988). Sacred polychoral music in Rome, 1575-1621 [PhD thesis]. University of Oxford. Online

Capp.Sist.173 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.178 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.184 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.185 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.186 (Upgraded to HQ)
Incipit: Feria quinta in Cena domini. lectio prima. Incipit lamenta-tio Jeremie pro-phete
Capp.Sist.188 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.189 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.193 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.195 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.196
Incipit: Missa Vt.re.me.fa.sol.La Quinque Vocum. Cantus. Kyrie eleison
Capp.Sist.197 (Upgraded to HQ), Josquin Despres Missa L'homme armé (c. 1492-5 )
Incipit: [K]yrie Eleyson

See DIAMM, black void mensural notation. Copied in rome for the Sistine Chapel

Capp.Sist.198 (Low Quality), manuscript of polyphony (c. 1578-9 )

See DIAMM

Capp.Sist.199 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.205 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.206 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.207 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.213 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.220 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.221 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.224 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.231 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.239 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.240 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.241 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.242 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.257 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.263 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.271 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.272 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.293 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.298 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.299 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.328, Octavius Pitoni Sequentiam pro Defunctis (1820)
Incipit: (f.2v) Di-es irae di-es il-la solvet seclum infa-vil la
Capp.Sist.330 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.340 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.341 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.346 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.354 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.484 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.485 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.486 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.487 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.488 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.489 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.581 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.588, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Five-voice Motets (1603)
Incipit: Altvs. Ioan Petraloysii Praenestini Mottetorum Quinque vovibus

Printed

Capp.Sist.630, Raffaele Panuzzi Indice di tutte l'opere musicali manoscritte e numero de libri stampati che si ritrouvano nella Cap. Pont. (1687)
Capp.Sist.635, Giovanni Celii Inventario Di tutti i libri, e composizioni esistenti si nel nuovo Archivo che nella Custodia delPalazzo al Quirinale fatto nell Anno 1753 (1753)
Incipit: (f.2r) Inventario. No. P[rimo] Libro in cordodano rosso, scritto in car-tapecora contiene li Responsori delli Matutini della Settimana S[anc]ta
Capp.Sist.658 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.698, Letters, to and from the Cantori Pontifici (1587-1594)
Capp.Sist.Diari.1 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.22 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.84 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.87 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.93 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.116 (Low Quality)
Capp.Sist.Diari.127 (Low Quality)

Copyright Aaron Macks, 2019-2023. This project is not an official project of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.

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