Notes on the Latin text
Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis venite gentes et adorante dominum quia hodie descendi lux [continued on verso]
The source for the lyrics of this gradual is Psalm 117.24 (Latin Vulgate Bible). It is a text that has been put to music perhaps most famously to modern listeners by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594).[1] If the 15th century dating of these leaves is correct, this version of the “Dies sanctificatus” was set around one hundred years before Palestrina’s setting of the text, demonstrating the legacy of Latin gradual verses in sacred music. It is not uncommon for graduals to take some phrases from familiar psalms, mix lyrics from multiple psalms, or forego psalmic verses all together, so as to create a free composition based on biblical text for original chants.[2]
Peculiarities on the Page
- This is the fat or flesh side of the vellum page.
- The binding edge of the leaf shows markings of having been sown, most likely into a quire of manuscript pages and then to the binding. For a video on manuscript making, click here.
- The top staff shows markings of scraping on the vellum, indicating that notes were written down and then changed by the scribe, presumably to better fit the syllables of the corresponding sung word.
- This leaf (both recto and verso) uses the F clef to denote the musical key, as opposed to the C clef used on Leaf 42. The F clef sits on the third line down of the first two staves (and on all the staves of 42 verso), and on the second line down on the three bottom staves. This discrepancy seems to be a mistake by the scribe. [3]
- There is another scribal error with the custos (the tick at the end of each staff with indicates where the first note of the next staff will be) on the second staff. The custos indicates the following note will be on the bottom line, but it is actually on the third line down.[4]
- There is marginalia on the right hand side of the page. It looks to be the numbers “39” written in pencil, perhaps indicating the page number of the original manuscript was not in fact 37, as documented by the UBC RBSC.
- The bottom right corner of the page is very worn, presumably because of turning the pages of the gradual book. This indicates that the manuscript was used regularly.
- There is a very noticeable circular cut out on the bottom of the leaf. This perhaps indicates there was a hole in the hide used to make the vellum, or that the missing piece was cut out for another purpose. Notice the same kind of cut out on Leaf 42 but in a slightly difference position.
- There is also a small tear in the vellum, presumably due to use and age.
[1] “Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da.” The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd ed. rev.. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 20, 2015,http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t237/e7615.
[2] James W. McKinnon. “Gradual (i).” Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 20, 2015,http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/11576.
[3] David Hiley. “Clef (i).” Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 22, 2015, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/05927
[4]“direct.” The Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessedApril 22, 2015, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t114/e1968.