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<p>Free Library of Philadelphia, Lewis E 223. Belém, Portugal, Mid-16th century. This antiphonary was made in Portugal in the middle of the sixteenth century, presumably for the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém near Lisbon (along with Free Library MSS Lewis E 221-234, all liturgical manuscripts of apparently the same origin; see colophons in 221 and 222). This book contains hymns and chants for the feasts of the temporale cycle, from the vigil for Christmas to Corpus Christi. The text is embellished with numerous black and colored initials of varying sizes with intricate pen-work decoration. There is also an historiated initial with the Holy Family (fol. 1r), a large illuminated initial Z (fol. 58v), and a small marginal drawing of a bird (fol. 182r). The text in this volume is accompanied by musical notation on five-line staves, done in red ink, which have in places been supplemented by additional notation in the margins or modified by later hands. On fols. 3r-4v and 25r-26r, the original words of the hymns have been covered up with paper strips inscribed with new lyrics in an early modern hand. This book was rebound in the eighteenth century, and its calfskin binding retains some of its original metal bosses and corners. There were once clasps to hold the book shut, but these are now missing.
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<br>Subjects: Antiphonary; 16th century; Musical notation</div>
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Free Library of Philadelphia</div>
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