A previously unknown source of Bartłomiej Pękiel’s 'Missa in defectu unius contraaltus' from the Archives of the Cracow Cathedral Chapter

Marek Bebak

Abstract

The announcement presents an unknown source containing Bartłomiej Pękiel’s Missae in defectu unius contraaltus, discovered among anonymous manuscripts written by Józef Tadeusz Benedykt Pękalski for the Capella Rorantistarum at the Cracow cathedral in the eighteenth century. The manuscript with the shelf number Kk I.26 is preserved in the Archives of the Cracow Cathedral Chapter. Previously, Pękiel’s composition was known solely from an incomplete manuscript source preserved there with the shelf number Kk I.26 (with the highest of the three voice-parts missing). The present announcement contains a description of the manuscript Kk I.26 and examples of amendments introduced by the scribe. Most importantly, the modifications include changing the number of voice-parts from three (two tenor parts, of which one has not survived, and a bass part) to six by adding an alto part, three tenor parts, one of which could by performed ad libitum because it doubles tenor part I, a bass part, and basso ripieno, which is a literal repetition of the bass part, subtitled with the verbal text). A detailed analysis of style is needed to determine whether any of the voice-parts added by Pękalski (an alto or tenor part) was composed by Bartłomiej Pękiel, but necessary steps have already been taken to solve this research problem and prepare a source-critical edition of the composition.