{"product_id":"medieval-antiphonal-fragment-gaude-maria-virgo-c-14th-15th-century","title":"Medieval Antiphonal Fragment – Gaude Maria Virgo – c. 14th–15th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn evocative fragment from a medieval \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eantiphonal, or choir book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, preserving portions of a Marian chant associated with the responsory \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGaude Maria virgo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (“Rejoice, Virgin Mary”).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten by hand on parchment, the fragment features bold \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGothic liturgical script\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e accompanied by medieval \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esquare musical notation on four-line red staves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This form of notation was used by medieval singers to perform the chants of the Divine Office.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite its fragmentary state, portions of the surviving Latin can be identified with verses associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGaude Maria virgo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, including:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGabrielem archangelum credimus divinitus…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“We believe that the Archangel Gabriel [addressed you] by divine command…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGloria, virtus et gratia…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Glory, power and grace…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe responsory celebrates the Virgin Mary and the message delivered to her by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArchangel Gabriel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The chant appears in medieval sources in Marian liturgical contexts, including the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePurification of the Virgin (Candlemas)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the Annunciation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe surviving fragment measures approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6 × 5½ inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and was originally only a small portion of a much larger choir-book leaf. Medieval antiphonals were often produced on a substantial scale so that multiple members of a religious community could sing from a manuscript positioned on a lectern.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe parchment later appears to have been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003erecycled as bookbinding material\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a common fate for medieval liturgical manuscripts after they fell out of use. The pronounced folds, staining, abrasion, trimming and remnants of adhered material testify to this fascinating second stage of its history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe manuscript is preserved in an intentionally unrestored state, retaining the physical evidence of both its medieval liturgical use and later reuse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e c. \u003ca href=\"tel:1350-1500\"\u003e1350–1500\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Western Europe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Latin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Parchment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManuscript Type:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Antiphonal \/ Divine Office choir book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eText:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Portions identified with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGaude Maria virgo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (CAO 6759) and associated verses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMusic:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Square plainchant notation on four-line red staves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 6 × 5½ inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Medieval fragment with substantial wear, staining, trimming, holes, folds, abrasion and remnants from later reuse as binding material, as pictured.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn authentic piece of medieval musical and devotional culture, preserving the words and notation once sung as part of the medieval Christian liturgy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Divine Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62776000348241,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0059\/0673\/files\/4DF4A855-8A43-4759-B27A-C32F289B32C0.jpg?v=1790774063","url":"https:\/\/thedivinelibrarystore.com\/products\/medieval-antiphonal-fragment-gaude-maria-virgo-c-14th-15th-century","provider":"The Divine Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}