'Virtual’ Ascriptions in MS. AugS 142a: A Window on Alexander Agricola’s Late Style

A fascicle in the so-called 'Augsburger Liederbuch contains a number of compositions ascribed to Alexander Agricola (c.1455–1506). Following the 'Nestentheorie' principle, supported by stylistic analysis, it is here proposed that the entirety of the fascicle is devoted to the composer, leading to the secure (albeit 'virtual') ascriptions of a previously known setting of the 'Dulces exuvi'e, and of a four-voice chanson-tenor reworking of Du Fay's 'Le serviteur' (of which the latter fits especially well within Agricola' output). On the basis of evidence previously adduced by Joshua Rifkin, the dating of the fascicle suggests the emergence of a 'late' style, to which the pieces preserved in the fascicle may bear witness.