Prof. Rimma Pospelova

Prof. Rimma Pospelova, D.A.

Music Theory Department of Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory

The Treatise De mensurabili musica by Johannes de Garlandia

Abstract

The article presents a possibility to identify Johannes de Garlandia, a well-known 13th-century English poet and grammarian, with Johannes de Garlandia, known as a French music theorist and an author of the treatise De mensurabili musica, who lived and worked at the same time. This hypothesis bottoms on the doctrine of the treatise that presents an innovative theory of musical rhythm based on a system of rhythmic modes corresponding to the prevailing poetic meters.

Translated by Prof. Rimma Pospelova.

Keywords

Johannes de Garlandia, poet, music theorist,

versification,

mensural music,

rhythmic modes.