Conclusions

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What can we conclude from exploring these two fragmented leaves?

Judging from the minimal decoration of the head letters, the manuscript of graduals these leaves belonged to was not a very expensive one. The plain blue and red capitals are utilitarian rather than ornamental. Also, the number of errors in the written reproduction of the script suggest either a hasty copy or an inexperienced scribe. Regardless, the evidence of fixing these errors means that the manuscript needed to be used and thus effort was spent on corrections. The worn bottom corners of both leaves means that the gradual was in regular use, so that even if it was not as beautiful or as well made as it could be, it still held important material that was consistently referred to.

From all the collected evidence, I believe this gradual was housed at a smaller, less wealthy monastery in Italy and was produced early on in the 15th century (perhaps even at the end of the 14th). More analysis could be done by scholars of early music on the actual notation and melodies of the gradual for a more accurate dating, but this is outside of the scope of this project and of my own expertise.

Perhaps with the digitization of more and more music codices, these leaves will one day find their way back to their original manuscript.

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