KEYBOARD PIECES FROM THE “WOODCOCK MS” (URBANA, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS MS X786.4108/M319): A MODERN EDITION WITH COMMENTARY

This research project transfers unedited keyboard pieces from the Woodcock MS into a modern edition with commentary. The name of this manuscript originates from “Deborah Woodcock,” after whom it is considered to be named. The manuscript, which has been preserved in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s library since 1953, was compiled in England around 1700 and is one of the most important English sources for late seventeenth-century Roman keyboard music. It includes a Fantazia by [Fabritio?] Fontana, eleven toccatas by [Bernardo?] Pasquini, [Johann Jacob] Froberger, [Luca?] Amadori[y], [Giacomo?] Simonnelly, [Giuseppe?] Spoglia, and Gafti [Tommaso Bernardo Gaffi?], as well as a suite by [John] Baptist Draghi [Giovanni Battista Draghi] (an Italian who lived in England), a composition, “The Designe” by “L. R., 12 years old” who is presumed to be its composer, and two anonymous pieces. Approximately half of the works are unique, not found in any other source. Even though little is known about the name Deborah Woodcock and the twelve-year-old composer L. R. of “The Designe,” the manuscript seems to be dated around 1700, taking into consideration the dates 1701 on p. 1 and 1700 on p. 83 of the manuscript. The thesis will also include a commentary which focuses on 17th-century Baroque performance practices, including aspects of fingering and articulation, the interpretation of ornament signs, and choice of keyboard instruments.U of I OnlySchool of Music polic