GB-Ob MS. Barlow 55

Bodleian Library, Oxford, England

Fragments, flyleaves: 14th and 15th century

Archive Bodleian Library, Oxford, England (GB-Ob)
Shelfmark MS. Barlow 55
Surface Other
Numbering System Foliation
Format portrait
Measurements now 210 x 138 mm
Other Identifiers
  • RISM: GB-Ob 55
Notations
  • Ars Nova
  • black void mensural
External Links
Provenance
  • England
Contents 11 pieces from 1 composers
General Description

Fragments of manuscripts from Barlow bound together (f. 1 and 7-13 are all flyleaves). Ff. 4-5 are two pages of an originally larger codex. These pages bear notation; at the bottom of f. 5, there is an odd line of 15th century notation. There are no less than 10 pieces, mainly three-part settings of the Ordinary of the Mass, but also the popular sequence Mater, ora filium and the equally well-known Alleluya. V. Post partum virgo.

DIAMM, 2017
Physical Description

Ff. 4-5 lack the two top staves. Both pages are also cut away a little at the right margin.

DIAMM, 2017
Binding

brown cloth binding of the late 19th century

DIAMM, 2017
Notation

Ars Nova; black void at the bottom of f. 5

DIAMM, 2017
Ruling

4 accolades of 3 red five-line staves (counting the missing two staves at the top).

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

4-5v

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

foliated at t.r.r. in modern pencil; includes modern paper flyleaves

DIAMM, 2017
Decoration

text is red throughout except on f. 5v.

DIAMM, 2017
Surface

parchment; f. 1 and 7-13 are paper

DIAMM, 2017
RISM Description

RISM B/IV 2: Fragments of manuscripts from Barlow bindings collected together in a brown cloth binding of the late 19th century. Altogether there are 13 folios, of which f. 1 and 7-13 are all paper flyleaves belonging to the modern binding. Otherwise there are 6 leaves of various sizes dating from the 12th to the 14th century and foliated at t.r.r. in modern pencil. The modern paper flyleaves are also included in this foliation. Of interest here are f. 4-5, two pages of an originally larger codex now meas. 210 x 138 mm. and lacking the two top staves. These 14th century pages are written in Ars Nova notation on 4 accolades of 3 red five-line staves (counting the missing two staves at the top). The text is also red throughout except on f. 5v. At the bottom of f. 5, there is an odd line of 15th century white notation. Both pages are cut away a little at the right margin. There are no less than 10 pieces, mainly three-part settings of the Ordinary of the Mass, but also the popular sequence Mater, ora filium and the equally well-known Alleluya. V. Post partum virgo.

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Répertoire International des Sources Musicales

5

Click an entry to see more information about that item.

Folio / Pages Composition / Item title Source attribution Composers (? Uncertain)
[-] Si quis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam - Anonymous
Appears on: [-]
Genres: Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Voice Text: Si quis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam
4 Sanctus & benedictus - Anonymous
Appears on: 4
Genres: Mass Ordinary, Sanctus [& Benedictus]
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Osanna in excelsis
General Note

end of lowest part of a 3-part Sanctus in score

Layout

score

4 Deo gratias - Anonymous

Deo gratias

Anonymous
Appears on: 4
Genres: Deo gratias, Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Deo gratias
General Note

lowest part of a Deo gratias in 3-part score

Layout

score

4 Deo gratias - Anonymous

Deo gratias

Anonymous
Appears on: 4
Genres: Deo gratias, Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: [c5]
Voice Text: Deo gratias
General Note

lowest part of a Deo gratias in 3-part score; cut away tt right after first 10 notes

Layout

score

4 Agnus Dei - Anonymous

Agnus Dei

Anonymous
Appears on: 4
Genres: Agnus Dei, Mass Ordinary
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c2

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c4

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Agnus dei
General Note

complete except for a few notes at right margin

Layout

score

4 Mater, ora filium ut post hoc exilium - Anonymous
Appears on: 4
Genres: Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c1

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Mater, ora filium ut post hoc exilium

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c3
Layout

score

Item Bibliography

Harrison, Frank Llewellyn (editor). 1963-. Early English Church Music.  London: Stainer & Bell. Pages: (26), [facs.] plates 40, 74.

4–4v Agnus Dei - Anonymous

Agnus Dei

Anonymous
Appears on: 4–4v
Genres: Agnus Dei, Mass Ordinary
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c3

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c2

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Agnus dei qui tollis peccata mundi … dona nobis pacem
General Note

if the few notes at the bottom of f. 4 belong to the Agnus on f. 4v; only the bottom stave is preserved of the 3-part score at the top of f. 4v

Layout

score

4v Sanctus & benedictus - Anonymous
Appears on: 4v
Genres: Mass Ordinary, Sanctus [& Benedictus]
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c2

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c4

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: f3
Voice Text: Sanctus dominus deus
Layout

score

5 Alleluia. Post partum virgo inviolata - Anonymous
Appears on: 5
Genres: Alleluia, Proper
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: f3
Voice Text: Alleluya. Post partum virgo … intercede

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c3

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: c1
Layout

score

Item Bibliography

Harrison, Frank Llewellyn (editor). 1963-. Early English Church Music.  London: Stainer & Bell. Pages: (26), [facs.] plate 42.

5v Kyrie eleison - Anonymous

Kyrie eleison

Anonymous
Appears on: 5v
Genres: Kyrie eleison, Mass Ordinary
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: c3

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: c1

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: f3
Voice Text: Kyrie … eleyson
Layout

score

5v Kyrie eleison - Anonymous

Kyrie eleison

Anonymous
Appears on: 5v
Genres: Kyrie eleison, Mass Ordinary
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: c2

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: c3

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Greek
Clef: c5
Voice Text: Kyrie eleyson
Layout

score

Composition Composers (? Uncertain) Folios / Pages
Agnus Dei Anonymous 4
Agnus Dei Anonymous 4–4v
Alleluia. Post partum virgo inviolata Anonymous 5
Deo gratias Anonymous 4
Deo gratias Anonymous 4
Kyrie eleison Anonymous 5v
Kyrie eleison Anonymous 5v
Mater, ora filium ut post hoc exilium Anonymous 4
Sanctus & benedictus Anonymous 4
Sanctus & benedictus Anonymous 4v
Si quis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam Anonymous [-]

Images © Bodleian Library, Oxford

denotes primary source study

Apfel, Ernst. 1959. Studien zur Satztechnik der mittelalterlichen englischen Musik. 2 vols. Pages: II, 19ff (facsimile of f. 4v-5v), 83f and 88f (diplomatic facsimile of nos. 4 and 8 with ligatures resolved into single notes); I, 59, 61, 67, 70, 80.

Harrison, Frank Llewellyn. 1958, second ed. 1963. Music in Medieval Britain.  London: Routledge. Pages: 295 (transcription of opening of no. 5 after Oxford, Bodleian Libr., Rawl. liturg. d. 3).

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Répertoire Internationale des Sources Musicales

Monday, 23 January, 2017

NB: Migrated from old site. Credit for notes may not be completely accurate. RISM Description