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Pictured
above is a rubricated & illuminated musical manuscript from the 16th or
possibly 17th century, hand scribed and illuminated by a monk or monks in a monastery near Seville
Spain. On thick vellum measuring approximately 18 x 12 inches,
suggesting it was originally from a choir book, an antiphonal. The
words and notes are large so that the whole choir could read from a single
sheet, these having been somewhat expensive to produce. As is common with
such old pages which have had only one side displayed, one side of the
sheet is somewhat yellowed while the other remains nearly white. The
illustrative components in the margins of the second side are embellished
with bits of gold leafing, both within the leafy foliage and the Angel's
robe.
The
music is fairly straightforward but alas, the lyrics are in Latin. Alas
yet again, my latin is horrible, so I suppose it could mean something
completely different, but here's my rough analysis: something or other
about burnt offerings or sacrifices for the Lord or master; the Kings of
Tharsis, Arabia and Sheba offering tribute and giving thought, followed by
burnt offerings from gracious yet terrified kings; then all of the people,
specifically gentiles, existing together
"fervently." The latter could imply passionately or
strongly, perhaps living eternally in The Kingdom of Heaven, though the
word fervi or ferui sometimes translates to burning, boiling, or seething
hot, so maybe its a melodic indictment of sorts, suggesting Hell-fire and
brimstone to those who don't tow the line. Indeed, the Spanish
Inquisition was in full bloom at about the time this was
produced.
Around
the turn of the 16th --> 17th century music notation took its more
or less present form--not too much different from what had been
used for the previous century and a half, other than for the rounded noteheads
and the gradual acquisition of various minor embellishments (i.e. clefs,
time signatures, flats & sharps, &c.) In the 15th century it
was more common to see staves with four lines as opposed to five.
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