Abstract
The presentation manuscripts produced by the scriptorium of Petrus Alamire at the Habsburg court in the Low Countries rate among the most precious music books of their time. Commissioned by sovereigns and members of the ruling classes or as gifts for them, they have long attracted the attention of musicologists. However, Alamire’s presentation manuscripts have up to now been investigated essentially as vehicles of music (or in some cases of visual art). Less attention has been paid to them as books, that is, as objects constructed through the interaction of different modes of communication. This is all the more surprising given that in these manuscripts the musical text goes hand in hand with very conspicuous visual devices.In this article I consider the dynamics and cultural significance of the use of the Alamire manuscripts as ‘books’ and, specifically, as ‘music books’. I analyze features of his presentation manuscripts with respect to other musical manuscripts of the age, and the possible reasons for ...
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