Skip to main content

The Wode Psalter: Cantus (set 2), Bassus (set 2)

 Fonds — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-2268

Staff Only
The Wode Psalter: Cantus (set 2) [click to view the full volume]
The Wode Psalter: Cantus (set 2) [click to view the full volume]
The Wode Psalter: Bassus (set 2) [click to view the full volume]
The Wode Psalter: Bassus (set 2) [click to view the full volume]

Scope and Contents

Illustrated Scottish metrical psalter in two volumes dated circa 1566, on paper, that belonged to Thomas Wode, vicar of St Andrews. These are the two partbooks of the second set of the work known as 'The Wode Psalter', and contains the cantus (or treble) set 2, and bassus set 2. For a more detailed description, see the following website: http://www.wode.div.ed.ac.uk.

Wode Psalter - full surviving set:

  1. Cantus 1 (Kept in the University of Edinburgh Heritage collections, Laing Collection: La.III.483.1)
  2. Altus 1 (Kept at the British Library: Add.33933)
  3. Tenor 1 (Kept in the University of Edinburgh Heritage collections, Laing Collection: La.III.483.2)
  4. Bassus 1 (Kept in the University of Edinburgh Heritage collections, Laing Collection: La.III.483.3)
  5. Quintus 1 (Kept at Trinity College, Dublin: MS 412)
  6. Cantus 2 (Kept in the University of Edinburgh Heritage collections: Dk.5.14)
  7. Altus 2 (Kept at the Georgetown University, Special Collections: MS 10)
  8. Bassus 2 (Kept in the University of Edinburgh Heritage collections: Dk.5.15)

Dates

  • Creation: c 1566

Creator

Language of Materials

Scots, Latin

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Wode (or Wood) was a former monk who lived and worked in St Andrews after the Protestant Reformation in Scotland (1559-60). Over a period of about 30 years, Wode collected a variety of music into what is now called the Wode or St Andrews Psalter.

Full Extent

2 Volumes

Additional Description

Previous references

Dk.5.14 (two crossed-out older references in this volume: "Ab.a.28"; "Db.III.20")
Dk.5.15 (one crossed-out older reference in this volume: "Db.III.21)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by James Browne in 1672.
Lettered in gilt on front page of Cantus volume (Dk.5.14): "DONUM JACOBI BROWNE 1672" (donated [to the University of Edinburgh] by James Browne in 1672). Inscription on fly-leaf: "Magister Jacobus Browne. Laurea donatus in hac Academia 1653 Librum hunc manuscriptum musicum Stephani Novum [...] Gracium in folio in usum Bibliotheca Edinburgena dono dedit 1672".

Bought for £3.3 in 1828.
Pencil inscription in Bassus volume (Dk.5.15: "Sale [...] [...] Library Edinburgh 1828, no 2924, the volume [...] for £3.3.0." Presumably sold to Edinburg University in 1828.

Related Materials

The first set of this psalter is kept at the University of Edinburgh under the reference La.III.483 (a set of three volumes containing the Cantus, Tenor and Bassus). The altus partbook of that first set is at the British Library (Add.33933), and the Quintus is at Trinity College, Dublin (MS 412).

The altus of the second set described here is at George Washington University in the U.S (MS 10), however the tenor and quintus partbooks do not survive.

Physical Description

Pencil inscription in bassus volume (Dk.5.15): "The pagination takes account of missing leaves". "Wants 4 leaves at beginning, 2 leaves between ps. 15 + 21, a leaf between psalms 30 + 34, a leaf between psalms 36 + 43, 2 leaves between ps. 79 + 83, one between ps. 89 + 95, two between 133 + 138 and several at the end."

Subjects

Digital Material

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
The Wode Psalter: Cantus (set 2), Bassus (set 2), c 1566
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
December 2024
Description rules
Isad(g)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379