P-BRad (Braga) Arquivo Distrital Pastas 209 + Pastas 207
P-BRad Pastas 209 + Pastas 207
Portuguese variety of Aquitanian notation on a red line. The scribe shows great precision in the use of the rhomboidal punctum for E and B, both isolated and in compound neumes (notably in the scandicus, climacus, and pes subbipunctis of the Credo and Sanctus). Custos used irregularly, always with the head to the left of the line.
Initials of each chant in blue and red, with pen-flourishing. Other capitals and headings in red, except two in black, perhaps due to oversight.
At upper margin of Ar and Dr, modern hand: “Confirmação de Valença, 1514–1580.” In the centre of Bv, earlier modern hand: “Valença.” Valença is a town near Tuy, on the Spanish–Portuguese border.
Two fragments from the same codex. Fragment “Pastas 209” well preserved, though long used as a book cover (Av–Br the portion attached to the binding). Two vertical folds near outer margins; minor vertical tears and small holes. Lower edge cut, with loss of text; outer margins also trimmed, not affecting the written area. Large dark stain at lower margin around the fold, obscuring text and notation. Fragment “Pastas 207” in poorer condition, though most of the text remains legible. Inscription in Dr indicates that Dv–Cr formed the portion once pasted to a binding. Two vertical folds near outer margins, two oblique folds, and a horizontal fold at upper edge. All margins trimmed, especially the lower, cutting the lowest line of text and music. Two oblique cuts at upper edge; small holes in Dr and Dv. Central portion of Cv–Dr stained and creased, hindering legibility.
Single column. Eleven red lines of notation alternating with text; the lowest line lost through trimming of the folio.
Original foliation missing.
The Hosanna prosula Te laudant agmina and most of the proses included here relate to the Aquitanian tradition.
Manuel Pedro Ferreira, «A música litúrgica na diocese de Braga durante a Idade Média: Estado da questão», in A Catedral de Braga. Arte, Liturgia e Música, do final do século XI à época tridentina, Lisboa: Arte das Musas / Cesem, 2009, pp. 93-135; reproduced in id., Aspectos da Música Medieval no Ocidente Peninsular, vol. 2: Música eclesiástica, Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional- Casa da Moeda / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2010, pp. 180-91.