The Database
The purpose for creating the database catalogue is to gain control of the motet
repertory and its sources for the purpose of determining generalizations about the
genre as a whole and of facilitating all aspects of motet research. The database allows
scholars the flexibility to investigate the motet and its many contexts from
multiple vantage points simultaneously by enabling sorting on various fields separately
and in combination.
This kind of investigation is simply not possible on a large scale with printed books,
which limits the number of ways material can be presented. Besides simply sorting,
users of the database can search for specific words or groups of words, for particular names,
or for many items in combination. Scholars with specific questions will are able to isolate
the portions of data that will best serve their needs.
The catalogue
- indexes manuscripts and printed anthologies produced between 1475 and 1600
- contains an estimated 33,000 motet and Mass Proper appearances
Each part of each motet is indexed as a separate record; the total number of records
stands at 50,040 (April, 2002).
