Welcome to the module Working with Early Modern (Music) Prints! In this unit you will first learn about the history and techniques of printing music. You will then be given an introduction on what to consider when working with early modern music prints. The contents of this course are not only relevant for musicologists and anyone who works with printed music: Most of what you learn here can also be applied to all other types of printed books from the early modern period.
Please feel encouraged to always take a look at the linked sources! You will get to know very different characteristics of the individual aspects (such as paper formats, print types, dedications, general design features, title pages...) that are presented in this course. At the end you will find some references for further reading.
The module is divided into the following chapters:
1 The roots and techniques of music printing
2 There’s no “DIN”-format in Early Modern Times: Paper formats
3 The problem of ‘music books’ – types of sources
4 The importance of paratexts and design
(optional: Printers at work - Yes, there was a proofreading process!)
5 How to work with early prints - a step-by-step checklist
Further reading
You will need around 120 minutes to complete the entire module, including all video examples.
Enjoy working on this course!