TEXT FROM THE FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST

Germany, mid-12th century or earlier. 108 x 138 mm. (5 1/2 x 4 14"). Single column, nine extant lines with interlineal neumes, written in a proto-gothic hand.
Rubrics in red, one three-line initial in red, with adiastematic neumes. ◆Vellum a little soiled, one side a bit roughened and faded, a couple of creases and small wormholes affecting a few words, but a very presentable, quite legible musical specimen.

The musical notation found in the present fragment is from the earliest generation of neumes. They are described as "in campo aperto," which means literally "in an open field," because they and they alone occupy the space (or "field") above the text. They are also described as adiastematic because they appear in a straight line, whereas later diastematic neumes reflect changes in pitch by being placed in a higher or lower vertical position above the text. (Horizontal lines were also added later to clarify the notation further, and these evolved into our modern staff notation.) At the time the present leaf was written out, the neumes here simply served as an "aide memoire" to the singer, who had already learned the melody orally. The script and neumes on our leaf resemble a number of leaves sold in the Christie's November, 2023, Schoyen sale of early musical leaves, in particular Lot #4 (German, ca. 1000) and #42 (German, ca. 1150)..