The Codices, part 1

 

The codex, or its plural, codices, is an ancient form of a collection of writings or music compositions, bound into a single volume in book form.  The pieces contained within a codex can be related or not; it's a collective.   

I've long been fascinated with the concept of codices as they apply to music, early music, and illuminated manuscripts.   I suspect that I've internalized this concept, and many of my compositions are mentally arranged into related thematic codices.  

Illustration from the Codex Amiatinus (c. 700 AD)

 

Other times, they're not only mentally arranged into codices, but physically and thematically cataloged in both compositional sketchbooks, completed compositions, and solo recordings.  I realize there are modern methods for compositional cataloging and organization, and sometimes I use those, too.  However, the concept of cataloging as a codex has never left me, and it's as valid of a system to me as any of the modern concepts.

 

leaves from the Codex Manesse; c. 12th century

 

There's something about codex grouping that resonates with me, and feels exactly right for some of my compositional projects and even compositional directions.  So much so that some of my solo compositions are written with the codex structure in mind.  I'd even posit that some of my compositions would not have materialized without the codex format.

 

In the summer of 2025, I began recording sessions for a project on which I've been working for the past two or three years.  The goal of the recording sessions was to be a solo album containing pieces; either written or improvised, built on or based on the codex concept.  I've discovered that pieces conceived in this manner differ from pieces conceived by other, non-codex-based methods.  Perhaps somewhat ironically, the concept of the codex spawns compositions that are related and connected into their own codex.  

 

Codex Sassoon; c. 10th century

 

When I began these recording sessions, I had a single solo album in mind.  The recording sessions ran for a little over three months.  When the sessions were complete, I realized I had material not for one album, but approximately five albums.  All of these albums will be released, beginning in early 2026.

 

More to come.

 

-kk 

 

 

 

 

 

  Image at the top of this page: Codex Sinaiticus; 4th c. AD.