14C LARGE MEDIEVAL CHOIRBOOK Manuscript Animal Parchment, 600+ Years Old, V Rare

Description

Original leaf from a large medieval manuscript
Gregorian Chant
on animal parchment
(20" 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
3 initial 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.