Das Patrem im Buxheimer Orgelbuch (Nr. 222)

Abstract

Since the beginning of musicological research concerning the Buxheimer Orgelbuch scholars (Schrade, Southern) have always believed the Patrem (Nr 222) to be based on Credo IV of the Editio Vaticana, and to be incomplete. However its cantus firmus is derived from a strophic Credo created in the 14th or 15th century. The setting in the Buxheimer Orgelbuch only uses one "strophe" of this melody and therefore can be considered as complete. Liturgical documents of the time indicate that from the 14th to the 16th century existed a practice of alternatim in performing the Credo. Sometimes the sung melody ended with "et homo factus est". The organ then played the remaining part. There exist several two-part Credos of that time as well. The beginning of the version Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München (elm 5023) is very similar to the beginning of Nr 222 in the Buxheimer Orgelbuch. Therefore it could be that the Patrem is an intabulation of a pre-existing polyphonic setting. Another kind of "incompleteness" of the Patrem is found in the facsimile edition of Bertha Antonia Wallner. In 1955 this facsimile was produced in which the stains found in the original manuscript had been removed. Along with one of the stains disappeared a complete chord in the Patrem.