A new case of number symbolism in Josquin? Elders, Willem

RESUMEN: Recently, Jaap van Benthem has claimed that the cantus firmus "Comme femme desconfortee" in Josquin´s Stabat mater contains 99 notes, and that by the addition of one extra note in the final cadence of the motet, the number 100 is obtained which in Christian medieval numerology is associated whit eternal life. Since in the last strophe of Stabat mater the oraying person asks "that his soul is given the glory of paradise" Van Benthem´s proposal is certainly ingenious. However, his proposition must be taken with some caution. Actually, the somewhat arbitrary addition of one note in the final cadence reveals itself as superfluous for the followong reason: close reading of the eight earliest sources for Stabat mater reveals that the number os 100 notes is indeed present in the reading of the cantus firmus in the Chigi Codez, the primary source for the motet. Only if one accepts this reading as "authentic",and only if one explains tha variants in the notation of the cantus firmus in this sources, a new case of number symbolism in Joquin may be discovered. Keywords: Josquin de Prez, Chigi Codez, Gilles Binchois, Mellon Chansonnier,Chansonnier Cordiforme, Stabat mater, Salve regina.