1122 - Gradual leaf and antiphonary leaf, chant manuscript on vellum, initials, probably late 15th century

Gradual leaf and antiphonary leaf, chant manuscript on vellum, initials, probably late 15th century Two music leaves from choir books, pen on vellum, manuscript with initials in red and blue, unsigned, probably late 15th century, choir book leaves in plainchant notation, black square notes on red five-line staves, text in black textura, rubrics in red, written on both sides, 1) gradual leaf with folio number "lxxx", six staves per page, rubric "Tract9. Desideriū aīe." and rubric for the offertory "Veritas mea", decorated initial "D" in blue with white foliate scrolls on a red ground for the chant "Domine quinque talenta", verso initial "B" in red for the chant "Beatus servus", in an old rose passe-partout, 2) antiphonary leaf with six staves per page, decorated initial "V" in red and blue with fleuronnée infill and penwork for the antiphon "Visionem quam vidistis", below "Magnificat Anima", verso responsory with the text "Et donet tibi de rore celi", in a cream-white passe-partout, condition commensurate with age, one leaf heavily rubbed, one leaf creased and stained, each leaf approx. 53x39 cm (HxW). Antiphonaries are the liturgical choir books containing the chants of the Divine Office, from which the choir sang together; the corresponding book for the chants of the Mass, from which the first leaf with tract, offertory and communion comes, is the gradual. The chants are written in plainchant notation, the square notes of Gregorian chant on red staff lines, and the openings of the principal pieces are emphasised by decorated initials with foliate scrolls or fleuronnée. The headlines of the first leaf assign its chants "Domine quinque talenta" and "Beatus servus" to the common office for the feast of a holy confessor and bishop. "Visionem quam vidistis" is the Magnificat antiphon of first Vespers of the second Sunday of Lent, on which the Gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord is read; the responsory "Det tibi Deus de rore caeli" on the verso, with the blessing of Isaac, belongs to Matins of the same Sunday, as transmitted for instance in the antiphonary of the Biblioteca Nazionale in Naples. Individual antiphonary leaves and gradual leaves are collected in manuscript studies and music history as witnesses of plainchant.