Text und Paratext in der frühen Motette

Abstract

Manuscripts of motets are often accompanied by paratexts. Moreover, the individual voices and texts of motets can be considered as paratexts relating to a motet, a clausula, an organum, and to plainchant. The paper discusses verbal paratexts found in manuscripts both within motets and those pointing to them. It argues that “tenor texts” should no longer be considered as texts but as paratexts. In a second section the paper asks whether the concept of an interrelation between text and paratext would be of help in understanding the structure of motets and medieval polyphonic music in general. It argues against a metaphorical application of the term “paratext” on the musical structure and suggests instead a consideration of the concrete materiality of the music manuscripts.