Letter from the editors

Abstract

I should like to respond to Peter Wright's very interesting article 'Johannes Brassart and Johannes de Sarto' published in the April 1992 issue of this journal. In the course of recent research at the Vatican Archives, I have come across some biographical data that may help both to supplement information that Dr Wright presents about the composers and to lend documentary corroboration to the convincing stylistic grounds for their relationship. With respect to Johannes Brassart, we now have secure documentary confirmation of Jus death date (previously unknown) as having occurred fairly close to 22 October 1455. This document presents a supplication to Pope Calixtus III for a benefice whose incumbent, Johannes Brassart, had recently died. The benefice is a canonry at the collegiate church of St Paul in the diocese of Liege, the annual income of which is rated at a substantial eight silver Marks. In the document, Brassart is described as both a former cantor-capellanus and rector principalis of Emperor Frederick III. The nature of this kind of document virtually assures us that the latter title was his official title at the time of retirement from the enlperor's chapel. The benefice was requested by Arnoldus Pictrar, a cleric from the diocese of Liege. I suspect that this cleric is identical with the musician Arnold Pickart, who in 1469 was listed first in a rotulus of members of the imperial chapel, and who is described there as a priest of the diocese of Liege. That it was a member of the imperial chapel who requested the deceased musician's benefice strongly suggests that Brassart had retained some connection with his former colleagues, particularly those from his native Liege. The new documentary information I propose to offer for Johannes De Sarto may perhaps clear up the confusion over attributions to this composer (footnote 8, p. 43) and may also help to confirm a relationship between Brassart and De Sarto. The first document, dated 18 June 1457, is a papal supplication from Johannes Doussart, a cleric of the diocese of Liege. He is requesting a chaplaincy at a