13-1350, LARGE MEDIEVAL CHOIRBOOK Manuscript Parchment, 600+ Years Old Rare!

Description

Original leaf from a large medieval manuscript
Gregorian Chant
on
animal parchment
Gregorian Chants from this early of a period are almost never for sale
(20.5″ x
14.5”)
The manuscript text
and music (4 lines of music on a four-line stave) were
beautifully
executed by hand
over 600 years ago in  14
th
century Spain, c. 1300-1350.
I
ntricate red & blue pen work and
2 initial large heightened letters
.
This
is an original with important and well known text, not a reproduction.
It is in good condition with standard devotional wear as
seen in the photos.
I
t comes with a certificate of authenticity.
As 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.
“A pen with a long slit – half or three-quarters of an inch – was used for drawing these flourishes” (Reference:
Mudejar Ornament in Manuscripts,
by Frances Spalding
, p. 4,
Hispanic Society of America, 1953
,
).  Aside from the pen a sizable amount of talent was also required to produce this amazing fluid puzzle design!
Graduals
contain the musical chants for the proper of the Mass: introits,
graduals, tracts, alleluia, offertory and communion verses, and
sequences for special feasts.
They
were used by priests, monks and nuns in churches and religious
enclaves. The large size allowed them to be seen by multiple members of a
choral section.
They
may also include chants for the ordinary of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria,
Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and for the introductory ‘asperges’ rite.