The Mulliner Book (British Library Add MS 30513[a]) is a historically important musicalcommonplace book compiled probably between about 1545 and 1570, by Thomas Mulliner, about whom practically nothing is known, except that he figures in 1563 asmodulator organorum (organist) ofCorpus Christi College, Oxford.[1] He is believed to have previously resided in London, whereJohn Heywood inscribed the title page of the manuscriptSum liber thomas mullineri / iohanne heywoode teste. ('I am Thomas Mulliner's book, with John Heywood as witness.'). A later annotation on the same page states that:T. Mulliner was Master of St Pauls school, but this has so far proved unsupportable. The provenance of the MS is unknown before it appears in the library ofJohn Stafford Smith in 1776. After passing through the hands ofEdward Francis Rimbault the MS was given to the British Museum in 1877 byWilliam Hayman Cummings.
Of the 121keyboard pieces over half are based on Catholicliturgical chants, and most of the rest are transcriptions ofpart songs andanthems, some twenty or so of which are secular. There are only two dance pieces and novariations. There are also nine pieces for thecittern, the earliest extant music for this instrument. The sixteen named composers represented are among the most important of the time, includingThomas Tallis (18 pieces),John Redford (35 pieces),John Blitheman (15 pieces),John Taverner (1 piece),William Shelbye (two pieces) andChristopher Tye (2 pieces). Nineteen pieces are unattributed.
^The book is described as: "Paper; late Henry VIII. Oblong octavo. In the original binding, stamped with Tudor rose, portcullis and fleur-de-lys, and the initials H[enricus] R[ex]" [note: these initials are now thought to be those of the binder]. "Collection of compositions apparently arranged for organ and virginals, on two staves of from 5 to 8 lines each, or a single stave of from 11 to 13 lines. Probably in the hand of Thomas Mulliner, Master of the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, who appears to have been the original owner of the MS, as testified by John Heywood (virginal player to Edward VI) and who is evidently the T.M. mentioned."
