The Mulliner Book contains the largest collection of keyboard works by William Blitheman (1525-1591). Although Blitheman is best known as John Bull's teacher, a closer inspection of the Gloria tibi Trinitas settings shows that he may have also been one of the pioneering figures in the development of plainsong variation sets. The six Trinitas pieces were probably originally intended as one cyclic work. This composition would not predate Narvaez's two sets of variations on O Gloriosa domina, but was probably a great influence on later European variation composers, such as Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. In the first five variations, the Gloria tibi Trinitas plainsong serves as a structural voice around which increasingly virtuosic passages are composed. In some of the variations, the cantus firmus participates in and is obscured by the musical figuration. The last variation follows the contemplative melos suave style, which can be found in other works by Blitheman. Investigation also shows that the work was most likely composed for organ.

Works: William Blitheman: Gloria tibi Trinitas I-VI (528-53).

Sources: Antiphon: Gloria tibi Trinitas (528-53).

Index Classifications: 1500s

Contributed by: Randy Goldberg