The 'Gyffard' Partbooks (British Library [GB-Lbl] Add. MS 17802–5; also spelled Giffard) are an important set of English Renaissance choral partbooks, containing pieces by composers such as Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard, as well as additional unnamed composers, which are not found in other sources.
This set of four partbooks were probably mostly copied during the reign of Mary I for use at St. Paul's Cathedral, but copying continued to ca. 1580. They are named after one of their early owners, Philip Gyffard.
Contents The collection consists of mostly four-voice sacred a cappella choral music (though there are some 3- and 5-voice pieces). The music is arranged liturgically, and groups of similar pieces are also arranged by the seniority of the composer. It contains the following pieces: No.ComposerTitle1AnonymousTe Deum2AnonymousAsperges me Domine (I)3AnonymousAsperges me Domine (II)4AnonymousAsperges me Domine (III)5AnonymousAsperges me Domine (IV)6Philip van WilderPater noster/Lord's Prayer7John TavernerKyrie Leroy8HyettKyrie eleison9John TavernerAlleluia (Salve virgo)10John TavernerAlleluia (Veni electa mea)11Christopher TyeKyrie eleison12Christopher TyeAlleluia13William MundyKyrie eleison14William MundyAlleluia15John HakeKyrie eleison16William MundyAlleluia17Robert OkelandKyrie eleison18Thomas KnyghtAlleluia (Obtine sacris)19Thomas TallisAlleluia (Ora pro nobis)20John SheppardAlleluia (Ora pro nobis)21John SheppardAlleluia (Veni electa me)22John SheppardAlleluia (Virtutes caeli)23John SheppardAlleluia (Per te Dei genitrix)24John TavernerWestern Wind Mass25Christopher TyeWestern Wind Mass26John SheppardWestern Wind Mass27John SheppardFrench Mass28John SheppardMass 'Be not afraid'29Thomas TallisMass for Four Voices / Plainsong Mass30John TavernerPlainsong Mass31John SheppardPlainsong Mass for a Mean32Thomas ApplebyMass for a Mean33John TavernerAudivi vocem de caelo34Thomas TallisAudivi vocem de caelo35John SheppardAudivi vocem de caelo36Robert CooperHodie nobis caelorum rex37John TavernerHodie nobis caelorum rex38Thomas TallisHodie nobis caelorum rex39John SheppardHodie nobis caelorum rex40John TavernerIn pace in idipsum41Thomas TallisIn pace in idipsum42John SheppardIn pace in idipsum43John BlithemanIn pace in idipsum44Christopher TyeIn pace in idipsum45John SheppardIn manus tuas / Domine (I)46John SheppardIn manus tuas / Domine (II)47John SheppardIn manus tuas / Domine (III)48William MundyExsurge Christe49AnonymousNos alium deum nescimus50AnonymousO salutaris hostia51Robert WhiteLibera me domine de morte aeterna52Christopher TyeGloria laus et honor tibi53AnonymousThe Passion (according to St Matthew)54John BlithemanGloria laus et honor tibi (I)55John BlithemanGloria laus et honor tibi (II)56John SheppardVictimae paschali laudes [Alleluia (Confitemini domino)]57Thomas KnyghtIn die pasce: Christus resurgens58John RedfordIn die pasce: Christus resurgens59Robert BarberDum transisset sabbatum60Robert Johnson (I)In die pasce: Dum transisset sabbatum61John TavernerDum transisset sabbatum62AnonymousVidi aquam egredientem63John SheppardSalve festa dies64AnonymousSedit angelus ad sepulchrum domini65AnonymousIn die ascensionis: Viri Galilaei quid admiramini66AnonymousIn die pentecostes: Spiritus sanctus procedens67AnonymousAlma chorus Domini: Messias, Soter, Emanuel, Sabaoth68John MundyKyrie Paschali69John EnsdaleIn die pasce: Haec dies quam fecit dominus70John SheppardLaudate pueri: Sit nomen Domini71John Sheppard, William Byrd, John MundyIn exitu Israel: Facta est Judaea sanctificatio eius72AnonymousProper for Jesus Mass: In nomine Jesu omne genuflectaturAnonymousProper for Jesus Mass: Gradual: Constituit Deus paterAnonymousProper for Jesus Mass: Alleluia: Deulce nomenAnonymousProper for Jesus Mass: Dulcis Jesus Nazarenus73William WhytbrokeMass Upon the Square74William MundyMass Upon the Square (I)75William MundyMass Upon the Square (II)76William MundyMagnificat77Thomas TallisMagnificat78John SheppardMagnificat79John TavernerMagnificat80Henry StoningMagnificat81Philippe van WilderSancte Deus sancte fortis82Thomas TallisSancte Deus sancte fortis83Richard BramstonRecordare Domine testamenti tui84Christopher TyeSub tuam protectionem85Robert Johnson (I)Gaude Maria virgo86Philip AlcokeSalve regina87AnonymousSancta Maria virgo et mater88John SheppardGaudete celicole omnes89AnonymousEt portae inferi90Thomas KnyghtSancta Maria virgo intercede91Christopher Hasjuns / HoskinsSpeciosa facta es92Thomas WrightNesciens mater virgo virum93AnonymousAve Maria gratia plena (I)94AnonymousO bone Jesu
See also
Eton Choirbook Lambeth Choirbook Caius Choirbook Peterhouse partbooks The Mulliner Book, an instrumental collection List of Renaissance composers
References
Sources The Gyffard Partbooks I and II edited by David Mateer. EARLY ENGLISH CHURCH MUSIC Volumes 48 and 51 (London: Stainer & Bell, 2007 and 2009) Roger Bray, 'British Museum Add. MSS. 17802-5 (The Gyffard Part-Books): An Index and Commentary', Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle 7 (1969), 31-50 David Mateer, 'The "Gyffard" Partbooks: Composers, Owners, Date and Provenance', Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle 28 (1995), 21-50
External links Table of Contents for Stainer & Bell's Gyffard Partbook compilations
Playlist of available works from the Gyffard partbooks on American Spotify Source description in DIAMM