MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT CHOIRBOOK LEAF SPAIN c1475, GRADUALE, FOUR LARGE INITIALS

Description

MEDIEVAL GREGORIAN CHANT - SPAIN 1475-1500
Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis Gratia
IM- 12943:
Original leaf from a large Medieval manuscript Spanish
Gradual
on animal parchment.
Size: 533 x 370mm – 21 x 14.5 inches.
The manuscript text and Gregorian Chant music (5 lines of music on a five-line stave) were
beautifully
executed by hand
over 500 years ago in the 15
th
century!!!
Third stave has a small hole which occurred when the parchment was originally stretched.
Spain, c. 1475-1500.
Four elaborate knot-work (cadel) initials
heightened with yellow with very intricate internal design in violet.
The
knot-work “U”
continues
Sancti Spiritus adsit nobis Gratia:
“Ut videri supremus…” (To the end that the Father of all things may be seen by us, He, whom the eyes of none save the pure of heart can behold. Thou didst inspire the Prophets to chant aforehand their glorious heralding of Christ. Thou didst confirm the Apostles…).
T
his is an original, more than 500 years old, not a reproduction, and is in excellent condition with fine calligraphic text as seen in the photos.
I
t comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Graduales 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.
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.
We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.