Gregorian Chant - Spain c 1525 - Christmastide Office

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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 deep blue with interior and exterior penwork in red; One illuminated initial in red with interior and exterior penwork in violet.

This leaf continues part of the Christmas Office.  The illuminated ''M'' begins:  "Mirabile misterium..."  (Today a wonderful mystery is revealed; the whole course of events is altered.  God became man: that which he was, he remained, and what he was not, he assumed, without undergoing mingling or lessening).

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.

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.

Shipped unmatted

  • Inventory# IM-11243
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