The Cantional of Ondřej Kopydlanský of Sedlčany in a New Context

Abstract

The cantional of Ondřej Kopydlanský of Sedlčany (NM-ČMH AZ 34) is one of the polyphonic artefacts of Czech Renaissance music with a complete set of the vocal parts. The study of archival materials, comparisons with similar cantionals, and discoveries made during the source’s restoring in 2007 have led to new conclusions with a revision of the source’s dating and new information about the circumstances of its creation. The manuscript probably dates from the 1610s from a small town in central Bohemia. It preserved not only period arrangements of sacred songs, but also the practical use of older repertoire in an interesting manner. This gives us a clearer picture of Ondřej Kopydlanský’s standing as a cantor and scribe associated with the activities of Sedlčany’s confraternity of literati and as the “editor” of the cantional.