YEARBOOK OF THE ALAMIRE FOUNDATION

WHO OWNED LASSO’S CHANSONS?
Imprimeur ou Libraire que bon luy semblera, toutes et chacunes les Oeuvres
qu’il a faictes et composées, et pourra cy aprez faire et composer, jusques au
temps et terme de dix ans, à compter du jour qu’elles seront achevées d’imprimer.
Avec defenses tresexpresses à toutes personnes de quelque qualité
qu’elles soyent, de les imprimer, faire imprimer, ou mettre en vente, sans le
congé et consentement dudict Orlande, ou de celuy auquel il aura baillé ledict
congé: Sur peine d’amende arbitraire contre les contrevenans, confiscation des
livres, despens, dommages et interests. En outre veut ledict Seigneur que mettant
au commencement ou à la fin desdictes livres un extraict sommaire desdictes
presentes, elles soyent tenues pour suffisamment notifées et venues à la
cognoissance particuliere de tous Libraires, Imprimeurs, ou autres, sans qu’ils
en puissent pretendre cause d’ignorance.
Translation:
By Lettre patentes of the King given at Fontainebleau the 25th day of July 1571,
signed by the King, by de Neufville on behalf of the King, and sealed with the
great seal on yellow wax on a simple ribbon. And by other Lettre patentes of
confirmation of King Henry given at Paris the 25th day of August 1575 likewise
signed by de Neufville. Granted to Mr. Orlande to have printed by whichever
printer or bookseller he deems suitable, each and every work which he has made
and composed, and may be able to create or compose in the future, for a term
of ten years, counting from the day that they appear in print. With express prohibitions
to all persons of any sort to print, to have printed, or to put on sale these
works only with the approval and agreement of the said Orlande, or someone to
whom he will have designated the said approval. Upon punishment of amends
to be determined against the violators, confiscation of books, expense, damages,
and interest. Furthermore the said Seigneur, in putting at the outset or conclusion
of the said books a summary extract of what is said in this document, all
booksellers, printers and others will thereby be sufficiently notified and informed
of it, and cannot pretend ignorance.
Document 5. Lasso’s Imperial Privilege, 1581. From a patent issued by Emperor
Rudolph in Prague, 15 June 1581. Quoted in POHLMANN, Frühgeschichte des
musikalischen Urheberrechts, p. 271, after the title page of the Superius part of
Teutsche Lieder mit fünff Stimmen, Nürnberg, 1583.
Thun unnd geben Ihme auch hiemit von Römischer Kayserlicher Macht wissentlich
inn Krafft diss Brieffs also dass non hinfüro alle unnd jede Compositionen
unnd Gesäng so gedachter Orlandus di Lassus hievor gemacht oder noch künfftig
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