Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/262

 250 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE notation. Besides Arnold Schlick, Hans Judenkunig,. Hans Gerla, and Hans Neusiedler published books on the lute which also contained theoretical in- struction. The brilliant works of the composers were not slow to awaken the activity of theorists, authors, and pro- fessors. The two oldest theorists were the Carmelites Johann von Erfurt and Johann Goodenach. The latter was instructor of Franchinus Gafor, who stood at the head of the Italian professors in the year 1500. A con- temporary of his was Johann Fiirber, Court choirmaster to Ferdinand, King of Naples, and afterwards canon in the church of Nivelles. Trithemius wrote of him in the year 1495 as follows : 'He is learned in all branches, a good musician, and a remarkable mathematician. He wrote three works on counterpoint, one on melody, and another on the origin of music' These works are a complete collection of the musical theories and ad- vancement of the science in his day. They are clear and precise as to matter and the arrangement of it, written in good Latin, and full of explanatory examples, either original or drawn from the best sources. The monk Adam von Fulda was also a remarkable theoretical musician. He published a treatise on music and arranged a motett on a hymn tune for four voices which gained great favour through Germany. Other musical authorities of their day were the priests Conrad von Zabern of Mentz (1474), Sebastian Yirding from Amberg ; later, Jacob Faber from Stablo (1496) and Michael Eeinsbeck from Nuremberg (1500). A book of musical instruction, written in 1511 by Johann Cochlaus, rector of the school of St. Lorenz in Nurem- berg, is characteristic of the age. It is so deep that