6 miscellaneous fragments of music kept together. The first two leaves are polyphonic, the remaining leaves contain chant of two types / periods.

Fragments 1 and 2: Two trimmed leaves from a choirbook similar in appearance to the Lucca 238 leaves, but not by the same scribe. Staining indicates these were probably used as paste-downs, possibly from the same binding. Late 15th century; white mensural notation with black coloration, with ligatures (mostly SS) and strapwork initials. The leaves are ruled with 9 five-line staves and outer plumb-lines which the scribe has extended for some lines at the right edge. The verso of fragment 2 has an additional ruled stave added to the foot of the page.

Fragment 1 measures approx 35.2 x 23-24 cm. The recto shows the tenor and contratenor parts of a Sanctus, up to the end of the first Osanna, (c3) written for more than two parts (the Pleni section is marked 'Duo' in the Tenor and 'Pleni tacet.' in the contratenor). The verso shows an upper voice part (c1 clef) of a two-part Benedictus and Osanna from a Sanctus, headed 'Duo', followed by two blank staves. The 'gutter' edge is slightly cropped and the outer edge damaged, but no music appears to be lost.

Fragment 2 measures approx. 35.5 x 23.5-22.5 cm and shows on the recto two voices (c3 and c4, the lower entitled Contratenor), of the latter part of a Credo (beginning at …Qui tollis peccata mundi) in cut-c time. The verso shows the beginning of another Credo, again two parts (c1 and c3 entitled Tenor) in circle time. The top line on each side has been cropped, losing at least half of the pitches.

Fragment 3 is a bifolio of square chant neumes written on 11 surviving red-ruled four-line staves per page, the lowest line cropped.

Fragments 4-6 may originate from the same dismembered service book.

Fragment 4 is a single leaf with close prickings down one side and a large tear. The chant is written in heighted neumes around a single red line marked 'f' on 14 lines; Fragment 5 is a bifolio. The leaves are damaged by mould and brittleness; fragment 6 is another bifolio, with turnovers indicating that it was used as a cover and the legent 'APT B' written on the 'front'. What was probably the exterior face is quite rubbed, but mostly legible on the back, less so on the front, while the interior is clear and bright. The condition of this fragment is significantly better than the preceding two, with no tears or deterioration other than the rubbing.

The leaves are listed in the library as: A recto/verso; B recto/verso; C bifolio; D1 recto verso; D2 bifolio; E bifolio

black full Ars Nova

complète

parchment