New York City (NY), Columbia University - Butler Library - Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Plimpton MS 040F

Cantus Siglum

US-NYcub Plimpton MS 040F

Holding Institution

New York City (NY), Columbia University - Butler Library - Rare Book and Manuscript Library (US-NYcub)

Manuscript/Print

Manuscript

Summary

Fourteenth-century folio from a Gradual originating in Siena, Italy. Square notation on 4-line ink-ruled red staves. Parchment measuring 468 x 362 mm with 7 lines of text and music. Gothic liturgical book hand. (Summary based on information from Digital Scriptorium 1.0)

Liturgical Occasions

Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday

Description

Folio 1r–1v: Gradual for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday
Italy, Siena, c. 1340–1360
Parchment, ink, pigments, and gold leaf
Gothic liturgical book hand by Niccolò di ser Sozzo
Square notation on red four-line staves (Information provided by Digital Scriptorium)

This fragment contains parts of the liturgy spanning the end of the Mass for Holy Saturday and the beginning of the Mass for Easter Sunday, marking the liturgical transition from the Vigil to the Resurrection. Written in a large, formal Gothic liturgical book hand, the music is set in square notation on four-line red staves. The alternating red and blue pen-flourished capitals feature contrasting-color filigree. (Information provided by Digital Scriptorium)

Folio 1r opens with a lengthy series of rubrics at the top of the page, providing liturgical directions for Easter observance.

In the upper right margin, the Arabic numeral "113" is written in red ink.

The black ink of the text and music shows significant wear, likely from both usage and age. Later, vertical black wavy lines were added at the end of certain chants, seemingly to mark chant divisions.

Folio 1v features a large historiated initial "R" depicting the Risen Christ in a grey Tomb, holding a banner and displaying the wounds of the Crucifixion. Two sleeping soldiers or guards are shown at Christ’s feet, all set against a dark blue ground with white tracery. The "R" is in off-white with white tracery. A grey roundel with white tracery is placed at the top of the "R."

The border includes foliate decoration in green and red, with white tracery outlining the design. The floral scrollwork, extending toward the top and into the page margins, is illuminated in shades of blue, green, white, gold, and red, with gold leaf spheres between sections.

Notably, the red staff lines continue through the illumination, indicating that the figure of Christ was painted over the musical framework.

Other less decorated initials begin certain chant sections: for example the letter Q in “quoniam” (a tract verse) appears in red with pen flourishing. There is also a small face humorously drawn within the letter A of “Laudate”.

A modern price mark reading “$100” is visible in the bottom right corner, along with a notation “1140” in the top left next to a cursive inscription.

Full/Partial Inventory

Full Inventory

Complete Source/Fragment

Fragment