Carlo Verardi (1440–1500), Historia Baetica and
Marcellinus Verardus (15th century), Elegiae et carmina, Rome: Eucharius Silber, 7 March 1493
bound with:
Marcellinus Verardus (15th century), Fernandus servatus, [Rome: Eucharius Silber, between 7 and 27 March 1493]

The two plays in this volume commemorate significant events in Spanish history. Historia Baetica celebrates the capture of Granada in 1492, a battle which completed the Reconquista under Ferdinand and Isabella and ended Islamic rule on the Iberian peninsula. The performance of Historia Baetica included a song in Italian with four voice parts in praise of Ferdinand and Isabella. The music is printed here in woodcut and constitutes the earliest printed music for theatre and the first secular polyphonic music printed in Italy. The verses in this copy are elegantly written in by hand. A performance of this song can be heard by clicking here.

Text by Margaret Lane Ford