Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Handlo, Robert de
HANDLO, ROBERT de (fl. 1326), writer on music, is only known as the author of a treatise on music, the manuscript of which was formerly in the portion of the Cottonian Library which was destroyed by fire. Fortunately this work, a commentary on the writings of Franco of Paris, was preserved in a copy once in the possession of Dr. Pepusch, and now in the British Museum (Addit. MS. 4909). From this it was printed by Coussemaker (Script, music. med. aev. i. 383). The work was known to Morley, and is mentioned by Tanner (Bibl. Brit. ed. 1748, p. 386); it is dated 1326, but no details of its author's biography are known. Handlo's 'Regulæ' are valuable, not only as throwing light upon the harmonic system of Franco, but also as preserving the names of several early composers who are not quoted elsewhere.
[Coussemaker's L'Art Harmonique aux XIIe et XIIIe Siècles; Fétis's Biographies des Musiciens, iv. 219; Burney's History of Music; authorities quoted above.]