Clemens de Piotrków (c. 1450-1507) – canonicus gnesnensis vir in arte musica peritus

Abstract

Clemens from Piotrków, born around 1450, studied in the Academy of Kraków, where he was conferred the title of Baccalaureate of Liberate Arts. Later he also studied abroad, where he was awarded with the title of Doctor of both laws. In the years 1480-1487 he lectured on law at the University of Kraków. In 1492 he moved to Gniezno as the Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. He was well respected by the Archbishops in Gniezno, especially by Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellończyk, who nominated him as Official and Vicar General. As the delegate of the the Chapter and Archbishops, he often represented Gniezno during provincial synods. He even once was a head of the diocesan synod in Gniezno. His legal education did not stop him from being interested in liturgy and cathedral music. Because he was nominated as Chapter Librarian, he had the opportunity to have under his care a book collection on celebration of liturgy. He purchased books himself, and sometimes he funded them. He also used his knowledge of music to make corrections to vital manuscripts and printed books. To this day, four volumes of antiphonary manuscripts from the years 1505-1506 funded by him, and a missal printed in 1506, have survived. Both were made on the basis of his instructions. He is probably responsible for the music in large part of missal. Clemens de Piotrków died in Gniezno in 1507. He is a brilliant figure in the history of liturgy and music of the cathedral in Gniezno.