LARGE ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT GREGORIAN CHANT MUSIC LEAF Italy c1778 INITIAL!

IM-10674: An original leaf from an 18th Century Manuscript Gregorian Chant in in two colors on fine hand made paper. Latin text with black square-note music on a red four-line stave. This leaf measures 480 x 330 mm (19 x 13”).

ONE LARGE ILLUMINATED INITIAL (3 1/4’’ SQUARE) IN RED, SURROUNDED BY BLACK STARS ON A YELLOW GROUND, AND FRAMED WITH A BLACK FLORAL BORDER.

The large illuminated ''N'' begins part of Canticle of Canticles (Song of Solomon) 1:4, 3, 2: ''Nigra sum...'' (I am black, but beautiful, o ye daughters of Jerusalem: therefore the king hath loved me, and brought me into his chamber. Draw me: we will run after thee to the odor of thy ointments. Thy name is as oil poured out).

This leaf was produced in Olbia, Italy, c. 1778, (dated and signed elsewhere in the manuscript by the scribe “J. Coudounel”). This is an original, not a reproduction, and its condition is shown in the photos. There is a bit of staining - entirely expected given the age and use of this leaf!

Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline. They were used by priests, monks and nuns in churches and religious enclaves. The large size allowed them to be seen by multiple members of a choral section.

This leaf comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

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