1475 - 1525 Illuminated Gregorian Chant Manuscript Leaf on Vellum
DESCRIPTION
This is an impressive vellum manuscript leaf from a late medieval choir book used for Gregorian chant. Written in a clear Gothic hand with square musical notation on four-line red staves, it was designed to be read by a group of singers from a shared stand.
The Latin text includes devotional phrases such as “Ad dominum” and “Domine Iesu Christe magister bone,” indicating a chant addressed to Christ. A red and blue initial marks the opening of the passage, adding a simple but effective decorative element typical of working liturgical books.
The scale and layout reflect its practical use in daily church services. The use of square notation on a four-line staff, combined with the Gothic script and vellum format, places this leaf in the late 15th to early 16th century. This was a period when large handwritten choir books were still in regular use just before printed examples became more common.
CONDITION
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