Colston Lecture 2007

The lecture will begin by explaining the peculiarities of late medieval musical manuscript transmission and the problems of fragmentary survival. It will then demonstrate how one very famous Bologna manuscript of the late 15^th century carries rich and unique evidence of changing taste at every level by its obsessive compiler, who discarded and updated the repertoire it contained over a period of fifteen years. The lecture will be illustrated with many images and will not assume specialised musical knowledge by the audience. It will appeal to those interested in manuscripts and the history of the book as well as to music lovers generally.

Free entry - all welcome.