Ink on vellum, with decorative rubrication and illuminated initials Framed size: 27” x 22” $1200 each
These exquisite manuscript leaves are original 16th-century antiphonals—musical service books used in Catholic monastic communities for the chanting of the Divine Office. Each antiphonal contains the liturgical music and Latin texts for the antiphons sung before and after Psalms, primarily during Matins, Lauds, and Vespers. The chant written here is in square neumes on a four-line staff, a hallmark of Gregorian notation, still used in traditional monastic settings today.
These particular leaves were likely produced for use in Benedictine or Cistercian monasteries, prominent monastic orders across Renaissance Europe. Both orders followed the Rule of St. Benedict, which emphasized the chanting of the Psalms as a central form of prayer. These manuscripts may have originated in Spain, Italy, or France—regions renowned for scriptoria that specialized in sacred music manuscripts.
The text is hand-scribed on vellum, a fine parchment made from calfskin. The musical notation and script are rendered in iron gall and red inks, while elaborately illuminated initials—sometimes decorated with flourishes or blue backgrounds—mark the beginning of important phrases. These decorated letters were not only beautiful but also practical, guiding choristers during worship.
Historical and Musical Context
Gregorian Chant, named after Pope Gregory I (r. 590–604), is a monophonic and unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. It played a vital role in shaping Western music, with its meditative and solemn tones aimed at spiritual elevation. During the 16th century, the use of large-format choir books like these was essential—multiple monks would chant from a single leaf on a lectern during services in the monastery or cathedral.
By this period, monasteries across Europe had become centers of learning and musical refinement. Orders like the Cistercians (a reform offshoot of the Benedictines) were known for austere, focused worship and particularly elegant musical settings. Their abbeys dotted the French countryside, the Iberian Peninsula, and Northern Italy.
