Techniques of unification in early fifteenth century cyclic masses and mass pairs run far deeper than simply the use of a common motto or tenor. Other musical relationships such as clef combinations, signatures, finalis, number of voices, and mensurations also provided unity. Examples from the MS Bologna, Museo Civico, Bibliografia musicale, Q15, olim Liceo Musiciale 37 (BL) show several techniques of unification. Two Gloria-Credo pairs and one mass cycle by Johannes de Lymburgia show strong use of motto technique. A Gloria-Credo pair by Hugo de Lantins is related by the working out of tenor repetitions more than by motto pairing. An anonymous Gloria-Credo pair (BL 105-107) features what might be called an extended motto technique, in which borrowed canonic material is developed differently between the two movements.

Works: Johannes de Lymburgia: two Gloria-Credo pairs (BL 121-24 and 165b-167) (210-13), Mass fragment (BL 193-96) 213-15), Mass (BL 161-65) (215-18); Hugo de Lantins: Gloria-Credo pair (BL 86-87) (218-222); Anonymous: Gloria-Credo pair (BL 105-107) (222-31).

Index Classifications: 1400s

Contributed by: Felix Cox