Description
15th/16th century Vellum Antiphonal leaf. This is on Vellum/hide. There are some<br>tears but it's stable in the frame. For some weird reason there is clear tape on<br>the back of the glass and a little on the front, possibly they taped the two<br>panes together and over time the tape degraded a little, still it displays well.<br>Slightly illuminated in the picture shown. 22.5" x 16" framed.<br><br>The origins of liturgical music traditionally date back to St. Gregory the Great<br>(d. 604), who was inspired by the Holy Dove to record the principles of<br>'Gregorian' chant. The Gradual contained the musical parts of the Missal and was<br>sung from the steps (gradus) of the altar. The Antiphoner contained the musical<br>sections of the Breviary. These terms have become interchangeable in modern<br>times. Because of their size and complexity, these manuscripts were still being<br>handmade in the traditional way for centuries after the introduction of<br>printing. They were boldly hand-written and illuminated on large sheets of<br>sturdy vellum so that the entire choir could read from one book.
