O TU CARA SCIENÇA MIE MUSICA

The uniqueness of the Squarcialupi Codex lies not only in its overall lavish presentation, its precious miniatures and its generous use of gilding. More than anything, it possesses peculiarities that are not to be found in any other musical manuscript of the 14th and 15th centuries, and that shed a spectacular light on Florentine musical culture. It was most likely manufactured between 1410 and 1415 in the monastery of S. Maria degli Angeli, a convent that was founded around 1300 and for which Filippo Brunelleschi had started a new church around this same time.

The vast Codex only contains secular works by 14 composers that all worked permanently or at least intermittently in Florence. It is strictly arranged according to composer, and chronologically: the oldest, Giovanni da Cascia at the beginning, the youngest, Andrea de Florentia at the end. Many of the songs on this CD are premiere recordings.