Shapreau’s contribution to this publication traces the dramatic fate of the manuscript during World War II and the immediate post-war years. Her co-authors are Lawrence Earp, a professor of musicology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Domenic Leo, an adjunct assistant professor of art history at Duquesne University.
“The Nazi-era looting and post-war rescue of this medieval codex first came to my attention through an obscure reference while I was conducting research in the U.S. National Archive on music-related losses during the Nazi era,” says Shapreau. “Reconstructing the larger history of this manuscript involved locating and analyzing additional archival records in the U.S., France, Germany and the U.K.”
In Q & A with Berkeley News earlier this year, when, in honor of the Campanile’s centennial, Shapreau gave a lecture about the 175,000 bells seized by the Nazis from towers in Europe during World War II, she outlined her research mission and its importance.
“As a result of the Nazi era,” she said in the interview, “musical manuscripts, printed books, musical instruments and other musical objects were confiscated, stolen, lost, abandoned, sold under duress or otherwise misplaced. My efforts are directed at review and analysis of archival records and other information to better understand the nature, scope and gravity of these losses, and their impact on individuals, culture and society.”
That work involves “a focus on provenance — the history of ownership and possession, and its importance to contemporary transactions where transparency may be an issue,” she added. “Access to archival records that relate to this era, and public dissemination of information, is essential for historical reconstruction.
“In some instances, this may lead to information that is relevant to the possible return of an object. In other cases, this may not be possible, but filling a gap in our historical knowledge increases historical accuracy, and with it a sense of justice.”
Shapreau says she hopes this award-winning research on the Machaut codex will provide new insights into this manuscript’s history, as well as its “continuing vitality and cultural importance.”
“The Palisca award also facilitates a recognition that archival access for historical research is essential to progress,” she adds, “and this topic remains in the forefront of contemporary challenges to researchers such as myself.”