| Description | This collection comprises music manuscripts from the late 17th century to the present day. They comprise music for choir, organ and occasionally other instruments. The early manuscripts up to the early 19th century are mostly part-books for for the two sides of the choir, the Decani (the Dean's side) and Cantoris (the Precentor's side). The surviving volumes are mostly those for Contratenor (Alto), Tenor and Bass. There are sometimes additional copies for the Dean, vice-Dean and Minor canons. These comprise service-settings (eg the Te Deum and Credo) and Anthems, starting from the opposite end of the volume.
The date given is the date of copying, not composition, as the volumes were added to over the course of many years. Music copied into these books after 1756 (death of William Rayltun) is included only if the piece had been in the repertory before that date. Works entirely new after 1756 are included in the revised catalogue of MSS 27-106. * = Marks items copied after 1756. Some of these manuscripts were still in regular use even in to the 1960s.
The modern manuscripts comprise scores of original compositions for the choir, many by composers who enjoyed a long association with the cathedral, including Alan Ridout (1934-1996) and Philip Moore (b. 1943).
There is a detailed listing of manuscripts 1-26. The following scheme has been used for the catalogue as presented here:
TD = Te Deum;
BL = Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, the Song of Zechariah, known as the Benedictus (not the part of the Ordinary of the mass);
Be = Benedicite;
Bs= Benedictus;
Ca = Cantate Domino;
Cm = Commandments;
Cr = Credo;
J = Jubilate Deo;
DM = Deus Miserator;
S = Sanctus;
Ma = Magnificat,
ND = Nunc Dimittis
Main Abbreviations:
A-Anthem Side
AA-Another Anthem side
F-Full Anthem Side;
S-Service Side
V-Verse Anthem Side
The references are arranged as follows: Book Number: Side Page. Manuscripts 27 through 51 were begun by Samuel Porter or during his time as at organist at Canterbury--1757-1803. Most include copying by various successors and assistants, especially Porter's son, William J. Porter, and Highmore Skeats. Two organ books are followed by two volumes prepared for the Dean and one for a Minor Canon. The choral part-books for the Decani side precede those for the Cantor's side; the only Surviving treble book for this period is MS 32'. Manuscripts 54 to 72 were begun by Highmore Skeats Sr. or by one of his several assistants and students (especially Samuel Haddiman, whose writing is nearly identical) in the first half of the 19th century. Scores and Organ Books are followed by vocal parts for Decani and Cantoris respectively. The remainder of the part-books, MSS 83-101 (except the out-of-place MS 92) date to the late 19th century, though some were begun by or in the time of T.E. Jones. They are arranged more or less chronologically within their parts. |