Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (560 x 365mm – 22 x 14 3/8’’) The manuscript text and music (six lines of music on a red five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand dark brown ink over 400 years ago!!!
Spain, c. 1525 –this leaf is from the Winter Volume (pars hiemalis) which comprised the Offices of Advent, Christmastide and Epiphany.
One illuminated initial in blue with red interior and exterior penwork; four exceptional knot work (cadel) initials in dark brown ink heightened with yellow – one with a profile of a man singing.
This leaf continues prayers for Post Epiphany. The illuminated “M” begins: “Miserere mei…” (Have mercy on me God).
The knot-work “I” begins part of Psalm 5:2: “Intelige clamorem…” (Understand my cry O Lord).
The knot-work “D” opens Psalm 62 (King James 63) 2: “Deus…” (O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day).
The knot-work “C” contains a profile of a man singing part of Isaiah 12:1: “Conversus est…” (Thy wrath has turned away and thou hast comforted me).
As is usual with Medieval and Renaissance parchment, the hair side of the leaf is darker than the flesh side, but may take ink somewhat better. The differences in tone caused scribes to arrange their quires so that the hair side of one sheet faced the hair side of the next, and the flesh side faced the flesh side. This leaf is in nice condition for its age, showing the customary signs of use.
Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline.
