Montréal, McGill University - Rare Books and Special Collections - Manuscript Collection, MS Medieval 0237

Cantus Siglum

CDN-Mrb MS Medieval 0237

Holding Institution

Montréal, McGill University - Rare Books and Special Collections - Manuscript Collection (CDN-Mrb)

Manuscript/Print

Manuscript

Summary

Bifolio from medieval antiphoner or choirbook. German?, XV century. Square notation in black ink on red five-line staff.

Liturgical Occasions

13th and 14th Sunday after Pentecost.

Description

Purchased from E. Scherling 1933 using the PW and JC Redpath fund. According to the library description, an accompanying typed provenance label reads: "Four folio pages from Mediaeval antiphonar or choirbook (German, XV century); showing unusually fine initial "P" with rubric and music on five line staff.; purchased from Scherling, 1933; P.W. and J.C. Redpath Fund". It was described in the Scherling catalogue as "Two connected leaves on vellum from an antiphoner. 4 pages large folio, musical notation throughout, one beautiful initial measuring about 9.4 inches in red and blue with magnificent pen-work and ornaments with marginal scrolls, red rubrics, fine example of mediaeval German book-decoration. Germany early 15th century; FL. 18".

There are contemporary folio numbers in red ink at the top-centre of each recto, indicating that this bifolio makes up the centre of a quire. Other single-line initials are alternating red on blue and blue on red with the grounds made up of fine pen-work.

The provenance of this fragment is difficult to determine. The style of the decoration and musical notation is indicative of an Italian or maybe Spanish origin, while the text hand is German, and the bookseller also labelled it as German. Perhaps this antiphoner was made north of the alps by a religious order with strong ties to Italy (Franciscans?).

Full Texts Entered by

Martha Culshaw

Melodies Entered by

Martha Culshaw

Description Entered by

Anna de Bakker

Full/Partial Inventory

Full Inventory

Complete Source/Fragment

Fragment