Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music (DIAMM)
Special Instructions
Users do not need to be registered to search the manuscript database, but DO need to be registered to see any images found when looking through manuscript information. Registration is free.
Description
The scope of DIAMM is to photograph and archive images of:
- all fragments of English polyphonic music written before 1550;
- all complete sources of English polyphonic music before 1500, and as many as practically possible 1500-1550;
- all fragments of European polyphony 1300-1450;
- as many complete manuscripts of European polphony 1300-1450, and beyond as is possible and practicable.
Fragments are far more numerous than complete sources, but most of them are the sole remaining representatives of lost manuscripts. Some are barely legible and hard to place and interpret. They amount to a rich but widely scattered resource that has been relatively neglected, partly because of difficulty of access, legibility and comparison of materials that are vulnerable to damage and loss.
In addition to large-scale restorations on full pages, unreadable notes or words on otherwise readable pages have been improved or revealed by digital restoration processes, to the point where new information has been provided about well-known sources.
Dates Covered
900-1550
Related Databases
RISM: Online Catalogue of Musical Sources
Contact
Last Update
6/14/2012