Gradual for monastic use, probably from Winchester. Written by 2 Irish scribes (Nicholson). There is music throughout.The only polyphonic piece is the two-part verse Dicant nunc Iudei on f. 67v-68, which is basically the same as the work in the earlier Chartres MS 109. It is notated in score in the same hand as the preceding and following works, but has rudimentary bar-lines and the typical wavy line dividing the two staves of polyphonic music of 12th century type. Bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1756.

Pächt and Alexander suggested that the MS. was probably made for the Benedictine cathedral priory of Downpatrick, after 1183, but it has recently been attributed to Lismore Cathedral. (Frank 2008)

Plain brown leather over pulp boards

English, fluent neumes

generally 6 red four-line staves per page, but green, brown and also purple staves appear in places. The clefs are very varied, including d, c, [natural sign], b, a, g and even such doubled clefs as [natural sign] over d.

67v-68

modern pencil foliation at t.r.r. throughout; the flyleaves are f. i and 150

Initials are red.

parchment

RISM B/IV 1: An early 13th century vellum manuscript meas. 227 x 154 mm. and containing 149 folios + one 18th century flyleaf at each end (f. i and 150). The modern pencil foliation is at t.r.r. throughout. The binding is of plain brown leather over pulp boards. This Gradual for monastic use, which was bequeathed to the Bodleian in 1756, probably originated in Winchester, and Nicholson thinks it was written by 2 Irish scribes. There is music throughout in typically English, fluent neumes. There are generally 6 red four-line staves per page, but green, brown and also purple staves appear in places. The clefs are very varied, including d, c, [natural sign], b, a, g and even such doubled clefs as [natural sign] over d. Initials are red. The only polyphonic piece is the two-part verse Dicant nunc Iudei on f. 67v-68, which is basically the same as the work in the earlier Chartres ms 109. It is notated in score in the same hand as the preceding and following works, but has rudimentary bar-lines and the typical wavy line dividing the two staves of polyphonic music of 12th century type.

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