Montecassino 871

Abbazia di Montecassino, Ms 871.

Assembled in a Benedictine monastery in Naples, it contains an eclectic mixture of Neapolitan secular songs and sacred repertoire. Its core composers are Cornago and Dufay. Especially interesting are written out improvisations in Fauxbourdon or very simple counterpoint of Psalms, Magnificats, Lamentations…). The source is fairly representative of musical life in Naples around 1450-70.