Two separated fragments, originally one leaf; the larger, in Sandon's description has the recto and verso reversed. Written space 244 x 155 mm. Music that would have completed no. 1 was not added to bottom system of the recto. Two text hands, both versions of gothica textualis semiquadrata. Formerly pastedowns in unidentified bindings probably from the Canterbury Cathedral Library or Archive.

The top system of the verso is partially cut off

English mensural, with rhomboid breves and diagonal stems on the first rhombs of conjuncturae

Wathey dates s. xiii 2/2; Sandon dates repertoire stylistically to mid-century, placing handwriting and notation both c. 1260-1280.

ruled in four three-staff systems with frame rules, double text guides; red five-line staves freely ruled with a height of c. 13 mm

the larger fragment has a modern foliation of 'Cant 1' and '10'.

r+v

ruled three-line 16 mm indentations for initials. Three-line initial for S [alve] of item 2 in red, green, and brown; text gaps filled by red-green ornament.

parchment

NB The CANT numbers (1-5) were allocated by Sandon in his 1976 ‘Fragments’ article. They do not correspond to a reference in the form ‘Add. Ms. 128/(CANT no.)’.

128/2 = not clear whether this was ever anything different

128/5 = CANT 2 (cannot currently be traced) – the current 128/5 is different from CANT contents

128/6 = CANT 3

128/7 = CANT 5 (reported as stolen in 1977) – current 128/7 has no music

128/8 - incorporates the former 128/71 = CANT 1

128/13 – now has no music (seems to have become 128/66)

128/62 = CANT 6

128/65 = CANT 4

128/66 – may be the one formerly 128/13

128/70 – no olim

128/71 – now incorporated into 128/8

CANT 1 = 128/8

CANT 2 = 128/5 (not the current 128/5 though)

CANT 3 = 128/6

CANT 4 = 128/65

CANT 5 = 128/7

CANT 6 = 128/62

RISM Supplement: 1 fol. (fragmentary; foliated 'CANT 1', and '10'). Parchment. Now 245 x 182 mm. Written space at least 225 x 155 mm (recto); 195 x 162 mm (verso). Ruling: twelve (nine only on verso: see below) freely-ruled red five-line staves (13-14.5 mm); frame rules, double text guides, and ruled three-line indentations (16 mm) for initials. Script: two hands, writing moderate and poor versions of gothica textualis semi-quadrata, responsible for 1 and 2 respectively. Notation: English mensural notation, with rhomboid breves and diagonal stems on the first rhombs of conjuncturae. Decoration: elaborate three-line initial to 2, in red, green and brown; gaps in text filled with an ornament in red and green; capitals in text splashed in red.

Written in England, possibly at Canterbury. Used as a pastedown in a soft binding of tanned leather (s. xvi?), unidentified but probably in the Cathedral Library or Archive. Add. MSS 127-129 were created largely from fragments removed from the Chapter Registers and Literary MSS, and this fragment may have been removed from one of these books. A large initial 'V' in green is offset on the recto of the leaf.

NOTES ON CONTENTS

1 Incomplete; the text only of the last section ('... stella dei cella ... expl. ... transcendens. Maria') is written under blank staves on the recto, and under a large space for staves left blank at the top of the verso. 2 Incomplete; ed. PMFC 17, pp. 160-162, No. 63. Bottom voice carries plainsong Alleluia V. Salve virgo (similar to those in F-Pa, MS 135, fol. 208v, and Mr, MS Lat. 24, fol. 214v).

This information is reproduced here by kind permission of the publishers. It is COPYRIGHT and copying/reproduction of any of this content without permission may result in legal action.