Perotin (called Perotinus Magnus and Magister Perotinus)
Perotin (called Perotinus Magnus and Magister Perotinus)
Perotin (called Perotinus Magnus and Magister Perotinus) , celebrated composer who flourished in the 12th century. His very identity, as well as a general outline of his life, remains open to speculation. Research by H. Tischler indicates that he was born between 1155 and 1160, may have studied with Leonin, carried out his major work on the revision of the Magnus liber between 1180 and 1190, was involved in the early development of the motet between 1190 and 1200, wrote his works for 4 voices at the close of the century, and died between 1200 and 1205. Another chronology has been propounded by Reckow, Rokseth, and Sanders, who maintain that he wrote the works for 4 voices in the 1190s, which were the early years of his career, worked on the Magnus liber during the first years of the new century, wrote elaborate clausulas about 1210, was instrumental in creating Latin motets between 1210 and 1220, and died about 1225. See H. Husmann, ed., Die drei- und vierstimmigen Notre-Dame-Organa, Publikationen Älterer Musik, XI (Leipzig, 1940), and E. Thur-ston, ed., The Works of Perotin (N.Y., 1970).
Works
Compositions attributed to Perotin are as follows: 4-voice organ:Viderunt omnes V. Notum fecit (gradual for Christmas and Circumcision); Sederunt principes V. Adiuva (gradual for St. Stephen). 3-voice organ:Sancte Germane V. O. sancte Germane (responsory for St. Germanus); Terribilis V. Cumque (responsory for consecration of church); Virgo V. Sponsus (responsory for St. Catherine); Exiit sermo V Sed sic (gradual for St. John the Evangelist); Alleluia, Pascha nostrum (Easter); Alleluia, Nativitas (Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary); Alleluia,. Dilexit Andream (St. Andrew); Alleluia, Posui adiutorium (Confessor-Bishop); Benedicamus Domino (1, 2, and 3). clausulas:Mors for 4 Voices; In odorem for 3 Voices; Et illuminare for 3 Voices; Et gaudebit for 3 Voices; Et exaltavi for 3 Voices; 156 clausulas for Magnus liber for 2 Voices. conduc-tus:Salvatoris hodie for 3 Voices; Dum sigillum summi Patris for 2 Voices; Beata viscera for 1 Voice.
Bibliography
R. von Ficker, ed., Perotinus: Organum quadruplum Sederunt principes (Vienna and Leipzig, 1930); F. Gennrich, Perotinus Magnus: Das Organum Alleluja Nativitas gloriose virgins Marie und seine Sippe, Musikwissenschaftliche Studien-Bibliothek, XII (Darmstadt, 1955); F. Reckow, ed., Der Musiktraktat des Anonymus 4 (Wiesbaden, 1967).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire