Westminster Abbey and the Academy of Ancient Music: A Library once Lost and now Partially Recovered

A significant discovery of previously unnoticed musical manuscripts and prints, once part of the Academy of Ancient Music's library (founded 1726), has been made within the collections of Westminster Abbey. The collection includes rare works by notable composers such as Bassani, Bononcini, Lotti, and Pergolesi, alongside lesser-known pieces by Francesco Negri and Fortunato Chelleri. Among these are an autograph Crucifixus setting by Antonio Lotti (likely composed for the Academy in 1731) and a previously unknown stile antico Credo attributed to Chelleri. This research identifies manuscripts and prints connected to the Academy, shedding light on their historical significance and dispersion after the society's dissolution in 1802. The study employs meticulous archival analysis to trace the provenance of these works, revealing their enduring cultural importance.

Diack Johnstone, H. (2014). Westminster Abbey and the Academy of Ancient Music: A Library once Lost and now Partially Recovered. Music and Letters, 95(3), 329–373. https://doi.org/10.1093/ml/gcu058