Otto F. Ege: Fifty Original Leaves From Medieval Manuscripts

Items

• 

  Antiphonal: Antiphonarium

  Leaf 27. "Antiphonal or responsive singing is said to have been introduced in the second century by St. Ignatius of Antioch" (Ege). "Many of the more than four hundred antiphons which have survived the centuries are elaborate in their musical structure. They were sung in the medieval church by the first cantor and his assistants. Candle grease stains reveal that his small sized antiphonal was doubtless carried in processions in dimly lighted cathedrals. In this example the notation is written on the four-line red staff which was in general use by the end of the XIIth century. The script is the usual form of Italian rotunda with bold Lombardic initial letters."
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 15th c.
• 

  Missal: Missale Herbipolense

  Leaf 22. "This particular manuscript was written by Benedictine monks for the Parochial School of St. John the Baptist in Wurzburg shortly after 1300 A.D. The musical notation is the rare type which is a transition between the early neumes and the later Gothic or horsehoe nail notation.The "C" line of the staff is indicated by that letter, and the "F" simply by a diamond, an unusual method. The bold initial letters in red and blue are "built up" letters
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 14th c.
• 

  Gradual: Graduale

  Leaf 8. "Graduals are the books containing the chants for celebration of the mass. Engish manuscripts of this early date are rare. This volume, with the uncertain strokes in the script, seems to indicate that the transcriber was unaccostomed to writing in this small scale. There are four and five line staves, and the "F" and "C" lines are indicated. Most of the various forms of written notes can be found on each leaf of this book.Those occuring more frequently are punctum (L. punctum, prick), a single note; virga (L. virga, rod), a square note with a thin line attached; podatus (L. pes, foot), two square notes, one above the other; climacus (L. climax, ladder), a virga note with two or more diamond shaped notes"(Ege).
  Original medium: Manuscript
  Date: 13th c.