GB-Omc MS Lat. 268

Magdalen College, Oxford, England

fragments: mid-14th and mid-15th century

Archive Magdalen College, Oxford, England (GB-Omc)
Shelfmark MS Lat. 268
Surface Parchment
Numbering System Foliation
Format portrait
Measurements 275 x 210; 418 x 269 (MS 267) mm
Other Identifiers
  • RISM: GB-Omc 266-268
Notations
  • Ars Nova
  • black full mensural
  • coloration in red
Provenance
  • England
Contents 3 pieces from 1 composers
General Description

Three volumes of fragments bound in 1920, consisting respectively of 93, 115 and 39 folios. The music-bearing folios come from MS 266, f. 26 (from MS lat. 7); MS 267, f. 89-92 (from MSs F. 13.3, F. 13.1, F. 13.1 and F. 13.3); MS 268, f. 26 (from MS lat. 7). F. 26 is reversed, so that its recto must really be the verso and vice versa: the two pages from MSS 266 and 268 belong together, taken in reverse of the present order. This is proved by the presence of the motet at the bottom of MS 268, f. 26 and MS 266, f. 26v in smaller notes than the rest. The final page of MS 267 is in a different hand, less stylised than the others and clearly 15th century. all the rectos seem to be versos and vice versa, but whether all 4 folios are from the same MS is uncertain (the middle 2 are, but they are not adjacent pages).

DIAMM, 2017
Physical Description

F. 26 of Ms 266 has had all margins except the top one cut away, though only a stave of music is missing at the bottom

DIAMM, 2017
Binding

brown cloth over pulp boards

DIAMM, 2017
Notation

Black mensural Ars Nova with red coloration (minims are only used occasionally for clarification of the rhythm in the first piece)

DIAMM, 2017
Ruling

12 red five-line staves per page, 15-17mm (shrinkage apparent); 12 red five-line staves per page.

DIAMM, 2017
Foliation

26 r+v

DIAMM, 2017
Decoration

initials are coloured in blue and red. The letter P on f. 26 covers 4 staves and is ornamented. The middle two employ the same black initial P for the word Patrem, while f. 89v has blue or red initials.

DIAMM, 2017
Surface

Parchment

DIAMM, 2017
RISM Description

RISM B/IV 2: 3 volumes of fragments bound in 1920 in light brown cloth over pulp boards and consisting respectively of 93, 115 and 39 numbered folios. The pages in question here come from the following original sources: ms 266, f. 26 (from ms lat. 7); ms 267, f. 89-92 (from mss F. 13.3, F. 13.1, F. 13.1 and F. 13.3); ms 268, f. 26 (from ms lat. 7). Ms 266, f. 26 measures 290 x 210 mm., though all margins except the top one have been cut away. Fortunately, only a stave of music is missing, at the bottom. The Ars Nova notation appears to date from the mid-14th century, though the first piece was not composed with minims in mind, i.e. they are only used occasionally for clarification of the rhythm. There are 12 red five-line staves per page, and initials are coloured in blue and red. The letter P on f. 26 covers 4 staves and is ornamented. The unusual g clef appears on this page too. The present recto must really be the verso and vice versa, so that the two pages from mss 266 and 268 belong together, taken in reverse of the present order. This is proved by the presence of the motet at the bottom of ms 268, f. 26 and ms 266, f. 26v in smaller notes than the rest. Ms 268 meas. 275 x 210 mm. - The completer and larger fragment in ms 267 meas. 418 x 269 mm. maximum. The final page is in a different hand, less stylised than the others and clearly 15th century. The use of mensuration signs and frequent red notes also suggests a similar date, however, for the other pieces, namely c. 1420. Again all the rectos seem to be versos and vice versa, but whether all 4 folios are from the same ms is difficult to decide. Certainly the middle 2 are, but they are not adjacent pages. Both employ the same black initial P for the word Patrem, while f. 89v has blue or red initials. The developed Ars Nova notation is written on 12 red five-line staves per page.

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.

Répertoire International des Sources Musicales

26

Click an entry to see more information about that item.

Folio / Pages Composition / Item title Source attribution Composers (? Uncertain)
26 subsidia - Anonymous

subsidia

Anonymous
Appears on: 26
Genres: Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c2
Voice Text: subsidia

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: none
Clef: f3
General Note

two motet parts perhaps from different pieces, often very difficult to read

Layout

parts

26 Inter usitata novum quid … psalamus, sed ad opus cuius / Inter tot et tales tu virgo - Anonymous
Appears on: 26
Genres: Alleluia, Proper
Voice: Tenor
Languages: none
Clef: f3

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c3
Voice Text: Inter tot et tales tu virgo

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c2
Voice Text: Inter usitata novum quid. . . psalamus, sed ad opus cuius
Layout

parts

General Note

latter part of Tr text illegible. Continued in MS 266, f. 26v

26–26v Flos anglorum, inclitus rex / nobilis festum - Anonymous
Appears on: 26–26v
Genres: Motet
Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c1
Voice Text: Flos anglorum, inclitus rex

Voice: [no designation]
Languages: Latin
Clef: c2
Voice Text: nobilis festum
Layout

parts

General Note

T missing; the whole is fragmentary. Continued in MS 266, f. 26v

Composition Composers (? Uncertain) Folios / Pages
Flos anglorum, inclitus rex / nobilis festum Anonymous 26–26v
Inter usitata novum quid … psalamus, sed ad opus cuius / Inter tot et tales tu virgo Anonymous 26
subsidia Anonymous 26

Images © Magdalen College, Oxford

denotes primary source study

Bukofzer, Manfred F. 1960. Popular and Secular Music in England (to c. 1470). New Oxford History of Music, edited by Manfred F Bukofzer,  London: Oxford University Press. Pages: 197 (note 1) and 211f.

Apfel, Ernst. 1959. Studien zur Satztechnik der mittelalterlichen englischen Musik. 2 vols. Pages: II, 27f (facsimile of ms 267, f. 90 and 91); I, 61, 63, 66, 81f.

This form is used to make comments on a source. If you wish to notify us of a correction to the record, you should use the "Contribute a change" form instead.

No comments have been made.

Contributions to this record are recorded here. If you wish to contribute information or a correction to this record, use the "Contribute a Change" link. This will then be reviewed by DIAMM staff and, if accepted, your contribution will be acknowledged here.

Répertoire Internationale des Sources Musicales

Monday, 23 January, 2017

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