This fragment contains the remains of a complete polyphonic mass. It is copied in a normal minuscule of the period. The composer's or scribe's name, Johannes Lambuleti, is added near the end of the second voice of the Kyrie, and suggests a local origin. The separate parts are usually written one after the other, though the Kyrie divides the page into two halves for its two upper voices. The MS lacks at least one bifolio inside the present one and probably another outside it: this is clear from the incomplete state of the Gloria and Sanctus, but in addition the Kyrie probably lacks the first and second invocations, since the trope Expurgator scelerum is the third strophe of the Kyrie trope Rex genitor. The Agnus and Benedicamus appear to be complete in two parts. The fragment was used in 1526 as a binding for a register of births and deaths, the oldest one known for this district. Unfortunately, the register has disappeared, though the musical bifolio was sewn to it, apparently in 1526.

The exterior of the MS is worn, though it is mainly still legible and the interior is excellently preserved.

Ars Nova, with dots of division and addition, not infrequent accidentals and occasional mensuration signs (O and C). Fermate occur in the Sanctus. Longs and breves used in the Benedicamus look archaic.

nine red five-line staves per page

1-2v

no ornament and the initials have not been filled in, though guide-letters exist.

Parchment

RISM B/IV 2: A single parchment bifolio measuring 335 x 230 mm. This manuscript was found in a drawer at the Institut de Musicologie by Professor Jacques Chailley in November, 1952, though its existence there was known probably five years earlier, since Guillaume de Van knew of it and searches were made for it in 1950. It was sent to Paris by the abbé Richard, cure of Dambelin, in 1870, and from the Ministry of Education arrived at the Archives, where all trace of it was lost till its discovery at the Sorbonne in 1952. This mid-14th century fragment, containing the remains of a complete polyphonic mass, undoubtedly owed its preservation to the fact that it was used in 1526 as a binding for a register of births and deaths, the oldest one known for this district. Unfortunately, the register has disappeared, though the musical bifolio was sewn to it, apparently in 1526. This accounts for the worn state of the exterior of the manuscript, though it is mainly still legible and the interior is excellently preserved. The literary script is a normal minuscule of the period and the notation typical of the Ars Nova. There are nine red five-line staves per page, dots of division and addition, not infrequent accidentals and occasional mensuration signs (O and C). Fermate occur in the Sanctus. The composer's or scribe's name, Johannes Lambuleti, is added near the end of the second voice of the Kyrie, and suggests a local origin. Obviously the manuscript was intended for practical use, for it lacks ornament and the initials have not been filled in, though guide-letters exist. The separate parts are usually written one after the other, though the Kyrie divides the page into two halves for its two upper voices. Obviously the ms lacks at least one bifolio inside the present one and probably another outside it. This is clear from the incomplete state of the Gloria and Sanctus, but in addition the Kyrie probably lacks the first and second invocations, since the trope Expurgator scelerum is the third strophe of the Kyrie trope Rex genitor. The Agnus and Benedicamus appear to be complete in two parts, though the Benedicamus notation in longs and breves looks archaic.

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