L. Senfl: A Catalogue Raisonné. Vol. 2: Cat. of the Sources

Ludwig Senfl (c. 14901543) is one of the most influential composers in the German speaking areas during the first half of the 16th century. Although his importance in music history has already been acknowledged during the 19th century, profound research remained difficult. Due to two fragmentary editions, scholars up to the present day have to operate with a vague picture of the scope and the transmission of Senfls compositions; this is the reason why a deeper investigation in his encompassing uvre, which covers all known genres of his time, is still lacking. The two volumes of the Senfl Catalogue fill this gap. During a six-year research project, which started in 2008 and was led by Birgit Lodes, Stefan Gasch and Sonja Tröster, prepared an encompassing reference book for the work of Ludwig Senfl. While the first volume (in print) describes all compositions in detail, the second volume of the Senfl Catalogue is primarily a catalogue of the sources transmitting Senfls music: musical sources in manuscript and print, theoretical writings (including textbooks) and extraordinary sources such as embroidered partbooks, table tops and playing cards with musical notation are characterised. Included in the individual entries are the significant codicological information, remarks on related sources, a list of Senfls compositions transmitted in the source, indications of facsimile reproductions as well as catalogue and secondary literature. Besides, this volume holds the necessary resources to exploit all facets of the catalogue, such as abbreviations, the extensive bibliography and several indexes. The catalogue of sources is an indispensable reference tool and represents the latest state of research in the field of source studies. It enables the reader to place Ludwig Senfls compositions in their context of transmission and to draft patterns of the dissemination of works and workgroups. The information presented in this volume of the Senfl Catalogue clearly proves the importance of this composers music not only during his life time but also its continuing influence in the second half of the 16th century.