Introduction: The Complete Extant Transmissions of the Masses

Abstract

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the fourth and final volume of Rex Eakins's new edition of Guillaume Faugues's 'opera omnia'. Its completion marks another signal contribution to the study of the musical repertoire that occupied Dr Eakins's attention when he first took me under his wing as I embarked upon my doctoral studies in 14th and 15th century music.1 One of the most memorable but all too short projects that Dr Eakins and I researched together concerned another musical beacon of the second half of the fifteenth century, Firminus Caron.2 This project nurtured my curiosity and enthusiasm for this musical repertoire and its sources, both of which continue unabated today. Dr Eakins's edition is timely in many ways, but for me it is especially relevant to my research on canonic techniques in the 14th and 15th centuries.3 Faugues's 'Missa L 'homme armé' is an astonishing achievement that bridges the canonic techniques of the Guillaume Du Fay (c.l397-1474) with those of the next generation of composers, including Philippe Basiron (c.1449-1491), Marbrianus de Orto ( c.l460-1529) and the master of canonic composition, Josquin des Prez (c.l450/55-1521). More scholarship still needs to be done which closely analyses Faugues's music, and better situates his innovations in compositional techniques against the backdrop of his contemporaries. It is expected that this edition will stimulate further research, as well has provide the basis for new performances and recordings ofFaugues's music.