A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Bodl. 775

Summary Catalogue no.: 2558

Contents

Troper ('Winchester' or 'Aethelred Troper')

A. Additions (fols. 1–7) of about the 12th century, mostly kyrie tropes and a troped Gloria; troper divided into temporale (fol. 8), including the litany of Holy Saturday, sanctorale (fol. 33), beginning with St. Stephen, common of the saints (fol. 58v); kyriale: Kyrie (fol. 61v), Gloria (fol. 64), Sanctus (fol. 72v), Agnus dei (fol. 74v); collection of Alleluia versicles (fol. 76), tractus (fol. 88) and offertory verses (fol. 97).

B. Alleluia sequences (without text), each one preceded by the title of the melody (fols. 122–9). Additional proses, contemporary with the additions preceding part A (fols. 129v-35).

C. Proser, each prose being preceded by the melody of the Alleluia (fol. 136). There is no apparent order in this part; the notation is often erased and and rewritten on staves. Additions of local proses (fol. 182).

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: i + 191 + i fol.; a leaf missing after fol.1, another at the end, after fol.190.
Dimensions (leaf): 274 × 165 mm.
Dimensions (written): 210 × 110 mm.

Layout

Parts A and C, 16–17 lines, part B, 17 lines.

Hand(s)

Partly written by the same hand as B.L. Cotton Tiberius C. VI. probably from Winchester.

Musical Notation:

Adiastematic, non-rhythmical Winchester neums. Later hands changed the neumatic notation either into adiastematic (fol. 159) or diastematic point neums on staves of 3–4 red or dry-point (fol. 133v) lines; some Notker letters, especially in part B.

Decoration

Fine initial (fol. 8). (Pächt and Alexander iii. 48, pl. V)

Capitals alternately in green, blue and red.

Binding

Original boards and sewing, repaired.

History

Origin: 11th century, middle; additions, 12th century ; English, Winchester, Old Minster

Provenance and Acquisition

Winchester, Hampshire, Benedictine cathedral priory of St Peter, St Paul, and St Swithun: Provenance inferred from liturgical character, see S.C. 2558. (MLGB3: Liturgical evidence, often to be found in the kalendar).

Written for Winchester Old Minster (liturgical evidence).

Probably among the manuscripts given in 1611 by William Harwood, prebendary of Winchester.

Record Sources

Adapted (2018) from S. J. P. Van Dijk, Handlist of the Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford Vol. 1: Mass Books (typescript, 1957); Pächt and Alexander; and the Summary Catalogue (1922).

Availability

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Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)
Digital Bodleian (5 images from 35mm slides)

Microfilm

Microfilm available in the open shelf collections in the Weston Library (R. Films 101)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2021-12-14: Add provenance information from MLGB3.