oa Willaert’s Liber Quinque Missarum: The First Venetian Print Devoted to the Music of the Maestro di Cappella of San Marco

The Liber quinque missarum Adriani Willaert was published in September 1536 in Venice by Francesco Marcolini. It contained five masses, each an imitation or parody mass based on a motet, and each for four voices. It was the first print solely devoted to the music of Adrian Willaert, and thus occupies a most important position in his career. It was also published at a time when Willaert was still establishing himself as a figurehead in the musical life of the city of Venice. This study examines the context for the publication of this print, its dedication to Duke Alessandro de’ Medici, the association of Pietro Aretino with Marcolini, Duke Alessandro, and Willaert, and the significance of the print itself for Willaert’s career in Venice.