The earliest sources of Notker's sequences: St Gallen, Vadiana 317, and Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale lat. 10587
Susan Rankin
‘This little book has verses of composed modulamen , so that he who wishes to be retentive may hold on his breath.’ With this elegiac distich Notker Balbulus concluded the preface dedicating Liber ymnorum Liutward, Bishop Vercelli, abbot Bobbio, archchaplain and chancellor then emperor, Charles Fat. The collection sequences must have been sent Liutward during 884, since by December year had broken off work Metrum de vita sancti Galli mentioned in as process preparation. genesis can traced farther back: tells how, showing teacher Iso, corrections were proposed. Later presented some ‘little verses’ Marcellus (the Irish monk Moengal) ‘with joy’ collected them parchment scrolls ( rotulae ) gave students sing. died at St Gallen 871, Iso same monastery Moutier-Grandval, where teach time previously. Many ‘versus modulaminis apti’ already 871.
Early Music History