The Mass Database (MDB) contains about 40.000 entries of settings of the Ordinary to range from the closing years of the 14th century up to the present day. In addition to general information on the works and fundamental biographic data, it also contains information on the source material and modern editions for every individual composition. The MDB is based on a systematic examination of the established encyclopedias and lists of references (MGG1 and 2, New Grove 1 and 2, RISM, DIAMM) as well as the specialist literature (
bibliography
).
The data base is based upon the decade-long work of Peter and Verena Schellert (Arlesheim, Switzerland). Between the fall of 2010 and the summer of 2012, the financing of the
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz and the
Forschungsschwerpunkt Historische Kulturwissenschaften
(Research Unit “Historical Cultural Sciences”) made it possible to consolidate the data and transfer it into the relational online data base structure at hand.
Since May 2015 the MDB represents the basis of the research project (supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft) “Die frühe Messvertonung zwischen liturgischer Funktion und Kunstanspruch” ("The early mass setting between liturgical function and artistic ambition") (the department of Musicology of the JGU in cooperation with the department of Musicology Weimar-Jena), and furthermore serve research with many more means of access to the mass repertoire.
Attention! The database is in the stage of set-up!
Data concerning mass settings from after 1570 are partly incomplete or not completely up-to-date, for the project is focussing on the period up to c. 1570.
You can contribute to the improvement of the MDB by pointing out mistakes with regards to content and technical issues.
Respective notices should be sent to:
massdatabase [at] uni-mainz.de