Notes on the Latin text
[continued from recto] magna super terram. Tui sunt celi et tua est terra orbem terarum et plenitudinem eius tu […]
Continuing from the recto side of Leaf 37 are lyrics taken from Psalm 117.24 (Latin Vulgate Bible). The end of the passage is marked by the red “off” marking. The next section of text on this page is taken from Psalm 88.12 (also from the Vulgate). 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.[1]
Peculiarities on the Page
- This is the skin side of the vellum page. Hair follicles are small but can be observed on the top edge of the 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.
- 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 on all the staves on this page. [2]
- Faint vertical lines have been drawn on the staves on this page, perhaps indicating bar lines. It is unclear when these lines were drawn on the manuscript.
- You can see the small guide letter ‘t’ written by the scribe to indicate the illustration of the large read ‘T’.
- The bottom left 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] 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.
[2] 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