Jan z Lublina
Encyclopedia
Jan z Lublina, or Joannis de Lublin, was a Polish
composer and organist who lived in the first half of the 16th century. Not much is known about his life - he was a member of the Order of Canons Regular
of the Lateran, circa 1540 he was possibly the organist at the convent in Kraśnik, near Lublin
. Perhaps he is identical to one of the two Jans, the first of which received his master's degree in artibus et philosophia in 1499, and the second his baccalariatus in artibus in 1508 in the Kazimierz Academy
in Krakow
. From 1537 to 1548, he created the famous organ
tablature
, whose title is Tabulatura Ioannis de Lyublyn Canonic[orum] Reg[u]lariu[m] de Crasnyk. This is the largest organ tablature
in the world (more than 350 compositions and theoretical treatise) and one of the earliest. It contains several compositions by Nicolaus Cracoviensis
, as well as numerous intabulation
s of works written by Josquin, Heinrich Finck
, Janequin, Ludwig Senfl
, Claudin de Sermisy
, Philippe Verdelot
, Johann Walter
, etc.
Jan of Lublin was probably the first owner of the organ
tablature
manuscript now kept in the PAN Library (Academy of Sciences
Library) under the signature Ms. 1716. Perhaps he wrote some of it himself; his name is only given embossed on the cover, while on one of the pages inside the signature "Valentinus scripsit" appears. The tablature, numbering 260 pages, is considered the most comprehensive source of organ music in Europe. It includes transcriptions of religious and secular vocal music, and independent religious organ music, as well as preludes and dances. It also contains a treaty and exercises of a didactic nature in the fields of composition and organ improvisation and advice for tuning organs. Most of the repertoire is preserved in anonymous tabulature, but with many works the authorship has been identified, and some compositions have been identified from other sources. In total we can name 20 French, Dutch, German and Italian composers whose work is represented in the manuscript, and from the Poles - Seweryn Koń and the initials of Mikołaj of Krakow and Mikołaj of Chrzanów (NC N.Ch., NZ).
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
composer and organist who lived in the first half of the 16th century. Not much is known about his life - he was a member of the Order of Canons Regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
of the Lateran, circa 1540 he was possibly the organist at the convent in Kraśnik, near Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
. Perhaps he is identical to one of the two Jans, the first of which received his master's degree in artibus et philosophia in 1499, and the second his baccalariatus in artibus in 1508 in the Kazimierz Academy
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. From 1537 to 1548, he created the famous organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
, whose title is Tabulatura Ioannis de Lyublyn Canonic[orum] Reg[u]lariu[m] de Crasnyk. This is the largest organ tablature
Organ tablature
Organ tablature is a form of musical notation used by the north German Baroque organ school, although there are also forms of organ tablature from other countries such as Italy, Spain, Poland, and England...
in the world (more than 350 compositions and theoretical treatise) and one of the earliest. It contains several compositions by Nicolaus Cracoviensis
Nicolaus Cracoviensis
Nicolaus Cracoviensis was a 16th-century Polish composer.Not much is known about his life. His name appears in the Kraków University archives as organist at the Kraków court. The biggest part of his compositions is contained in two great Polish organ tablatures: by Jan z Lublina and the Cracow...
, as well as numerous intabulation
Intabulation
Intabulation, from the Italian word intavolatura, refers to an arrangement of a vocal or ensemble piece for keyboard, lute, or other plucked string instrument, written in tablature. It was a common practice in 14th-16th century keyboard and lute music...
s of works written by Josquin, Heinrich Finck
Heinrich Finck
Heinrich Finck was a German composer.He was probably born at Bamberg, but nothing is certainly known either of the place or date of his birth. Between 1492 and 1506 he was a musician in, and later possibly conductor of the court orchestra of successive kings of Poland at Warsaw...
, Janequin, Ludwig Senfl
Ludwig Senfl
Ludwig Senfl was a Swiss composer of the Renaissance, active in Germany. He was the most famous pupil of Heinrich Isaac, was music director to the court of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, and was an influential figure in the development of the Franco-Flemish polyphonic style in...
, Claudin de Sermisy
Claudin de Sermisy
Claudin de Sermisy was a French composer of the Renaissance. Along with Clément Janequin he was one of the most renowned composers of French chansons in the early 16th century; in addition he was a significant composer of sacred music...
, Philippe Verdelot
Philippe Verdelot
Philippe Verdelot was a French composer of the Renaissance, who spent most of his life in Italy. He is commonly considered to be the father of the Italian madrigal, and certainly was one of its earliest and most prolific composers; in addition he was prominent in the musical life of Florence...
, Johann Walter
Johann Walter
Johann Walter was a Lutheran composer and poet during the Reformation period.-Life:Walter was born in Kahla, Thuringia in 1496...
, etc.
Jan of Lublin was probably the first owner of the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
tablature
Tablature
Tablature is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches....
manuscript now kept in the PAN Library (Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
Library) under the signature Ms. 1716. Perhaps he wrote some of it himself; his name is only given embossed on the cover, while on one of the pages inside the signature "Valentinus scripsit" appears. The tablature, numbering 260 pages, is considered the most comprehensive source of organ music in Europe. It includes transcriptions of religious and secular vocal music, and independent religious organ music, as well as preludes and dances. It also contains a treaty and exercises of a didactic nature in the fields of composition and organ improvisation and advice for tuning organs. Most of the repertoire is preserved in anonymous tabulature, but with many works the authorship has been identified, and some compositions have been identified from other sources. In total we can name 20 French, Dutch, German and Italian composers whose work is represented in the manuscript, and from the Poles - Seweryn Koń and the initials of Mikołaj of Krakow and Mikołaj of Chrzanów (NC N.Ch., NZ).