Notes on the Latin Text
[continued from recto] -lamus scribe velociter scribem tis. Alleluya. Dominus regum. Dies erum firma. Tolle puerum et matrem eius et vade in terram luda defunc […]
The continuation of the gradual from the recto are lyrics taken from Psalm 44.2 (Latin Vulgate). The end of the sung phrase is marked by the red “off” marking. This section ends with three phrases (Alleluya. Dominus regum. Dies erum firma.) that would most likely be sung at the same time by multiple voices. This seems to be the only true indication of polyphony on these two leaves. The roman numerals over top of the words probably indicate how long each syllable would be held. The fourth staff is the beginning of another gradual that takes its text from Matthew 2.20-22 (Latin Vulgate Bible).
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.
- This leaf (both recto and verso) uses the C clef to denote the musical key, as opposed to the F clef used on Leaf 37. The C clef sits on the second line of every staff except on the third staff on this page, a mistake made by the scribe. [1]
- The outline of a neume can be seen on the second staff.
- Vertical lines have also been drawn on the page, particularly on the third staff, most likely to indicate bar lines and help singers read the rhythm of the melody.
- Many changes were made on this side by the scribe by scraping away the offending ink off the vellum. All notes on the third staff have been moved up one line or space (including the C clef, which could explain the scribe’s mistake). Words were also moved to better fit the confines of the staff.
- The custos (the tick at the end of each staff with indicates where the first note of the next staff will be) at the end of the second staff was not corrected to match the new notes of the third staff. [2]
- There is small marginalia on the left hand side of the page. It looks to be the numbers “42” written in pencil, which matches the leaf number as documented by the UBC RBSC.
- Again, you can see the guide letter ‘t’ for the large red ‘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 37 but in a slightly difference position.
- There is a significant red ink smudge on the bottom of the page, which is perhaps indicative of the number of corrections this page went through.
[1] 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
[2]“direct.” The Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessedApril 22, 2015, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t114/e1968.