PALIMPSEST: PALAEO-FRANKISH TO POLYPHONIC NOTATION

MS 5284/1
MS Short Title PALIMPSEST MISSAL
Text PALAEO-FRANKISH TO POLYPHONIC NOTATION
Description MS palimpsest in Latin on vellum, France, 11th c. & 14th c., 2 ff., 33x24 cm, single column, (31x20 cm); underlying text and music: 8 lines in a rounded late Carolingian script, alternating red and blue initials, palaeo-Frankish (St. Amand) music notation on a single red stave; overlying music: polyphonic setting of the mass in square music notation on a red 5-line staff with F-clef.
Binding London, 2005, cloth boards by Celia Alberman.
Context
Provenance 1. Sotheby’s 5.7.2005:2.
Commentary The present palimpsest was originally written in 11th c. in the rare Palaeo–Frankish, or St. Amand, music notation on a single red staff. In the 14th c. the text and single red staff was kept, while the rest of the music was partly erased and rearranged with the same music, but in a partly polyphonic setting of the mass in square music notation with 4 red lines added. Unusual in showing the change in music notation as well as an early attempt at polyphonic setting. 1 p. was erased but with no new music added.
Published
Exhibited
Mentioned
Boxing
Colophon
See also
Place of origin France
Dates 11c AD