TEXTS ON MUSIC IN ENGLISH
School of Music
University of Nebraska--Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0100
(phone: [402] 472-2507; Internet: plefferts1@unl.edu)
Data entry: Jonathan Haupt
Checked by: Peter Slemon
Approved by: Peter M. Lefferts
Fn and Ft: HEREBEG2_TEXT
Author: Anonymous
Title: A short treatise on the rule of discant
Source: Manfred Bukofzer, Geschichte des englischen Diskants und des Fauxbourdons nach den theoretischen Quellen, Sammlung musikwissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen, Band 21 (Strassbourg: Heitz, 1936), 143-46.
[-143-] [1.] Here begynnes a shorte tretys of the reule of discant. It is tho witt that there are acordance with on ten nowmber, but there are 9 in use whuch 9 be thees: the unisoun, the thirde, the fyfte, the sexte, the eyght, the 10, the 12, the 13 and the 15. Of the whuche 9 : 5 are perfite cordys and 4 are imperfite cordis.
[-144-] [2.] The 5 perfite cordys be thes: the. unison, the 5, the 8, the 12 and the 15. of the whuch fyfe perfite ther [= three] are full perfite and two are less perfite. the therde ful perfit are thes: the unisoun, the 8 and the 15. the two les perfite are thes: the 5 and the 12.
[3.] The 4 imperfite cordys are thees: the 3, the 6, the 10 and the 13, and so with thes acordys of discant every discanter may both ryse and fall with the plainsong outen tak: oute of a perfite acord into perfite acord both of a kinde, as oute of an unisoun into a unisoun and oute of a fyft into a fyft, oute of a 8 into a 8, oute of a 12 into a 12, oute of a 15 into a 15.
[4.] Ferthermore hit is to witt that ther ben three degrees of discant syght, that is to say the meyne syght, the trebill syght and the quatrebill syght.
[5.] The meyn shall begyn his discant a 5 abowne the plainsong in vo[i]ce and with the plainsong in sight. the trebill shall beginn his discant a 8 abowe the plainsong in voce and with the plainsong in sight. the quatrebil shall begynn his discant in a 12 abowe the plainsong in voce and with the plainsong in sight.
[6.] Also it is to witt that the mene longeth properly fyfe acordis of discant, that is to say: the unison, the 3, the 5, the 6 and the 8. to the trebill longeth fyfe acordys of discant, that is to say: the 5, the 6, the 8, the 10 and the 12. to the quatrebill longeth fyfe acordes of discant, that is to say: the 8, the 10, the 12, the 13 and the 15.
[7.] Forthemore it ist to witt that all the cordis of discant are abowe the plainsong in voce out take an unison. Nevertheles the syght of discant is sometyme abowe the plainsong and sometyme with the plainsong and so every discantor of the mene shall begyn his discant with the plainsong, as I said before and the fyfte abowe the [-145-] plainsong in voce. The therde beneyth the plainsong in syght is the therd above in voce. the fyft beneth the plainsong in sight is even with the plainsong in voys. the second above the plainsong in syght is the 6 above in voce. the 4 above the plainsong in syght is the 8 abowe in voce. And so these fifts acordis propurly longeth to the meyne syght of discant, as I said before. Neverthelesse he that syngyth the mene of discant may sometyme syng a 10, if the plainsong gos low, and so the syght of the 10 in his degree is a sext abowe the plainsong.
[8.] the discantor of the trebill shall begynn his discant with the plainsong in syght, as I sayd before, and the 8 abowe in voce, the 3 beneth the plainsong in syght and the 6 abowe in voce. the 4 beneth the plainsong in syght is the 5 above in voce. the 6 beneth the plainsong in syght is the 3 above in voys. the 8 beneth the plainsong in syght is even with the plainsong in voys. the 3 above the plainsong in syght is a 10 above in voyce. the 5 above the plainsong in syght is the 12 above in voce. the sexte above the plainsong in sight is the 13 above in voyce. the 8 above the plainsong in syght is a 15 in voyce, and so is degre of discant. Woso hath a voice abill therto may sing all the cords of discant if him lik[e]. But the propurte of this degre ther longs bott fyfe cords of discant, as I said before.
[9.] The discantor of the quatrebill shal begyn his discant with the plainsong in syght, as I said before and the 12 above in voyce. the 3 beneth the plainsong in syght is the 10 above in voyce. the 5 beneth the plainsong in syght is the 8 above in voyce. the 2 above the plainsong in syght is the 13 above in voice. the 4 above the plainsong in syght is the 15 above in voice. Also this degre of discant longyth properle to a childe for to sing.
[-146-] [10.] Forthemore it is to witt that the meyne degre of discant and the quatrebill have both on manner of singing, but the mene most be song of a man and the quatrebill of a childe. for a childe voys is 8 notis above a manes voyce, they [=though] it seme that they sing both in one voice.
[11.] Ferthermore it is to witt that every discantor in watt degre that he sings, when he setteth a perfite corde ageynes a fa, he most sing that perfite acorde a fa. and when setteth a corde agayns a mi, he most sing that perfite corde a mi.
[12.] Also it is skylfull that every discantor begin his discant in a perfite corde and ende in a perfite acorde. the meyne degre of discant shal ende in a fifte having next afore a therd, if the plainsong descende and ende in re ut, or mi re, or fa mi, or sol fa. the trebill degre of discant sall ende in the 8 having next afore a sext, if the plainsong descende, as I said before. the quatrebill degre of discant sall ende in the 12 having next afore a 10, if the plainsong descende, as I said before.
[13.] Also it is fair singing merry for to sing mayny imperfite acordes togeder descending or ascending with the plainsong, a perfite acorde singyng next after, as for to sing 3 or 4 [or 5 thirds togeder with a 5 folnande.]