MS. Canon. Liturg. 191
Summary Catalogue no.: 19308
Portable Psalter with Antiphons, Dominican Use; Italy, Brescia, 15th century, third quarter (after 1461)
Contents
Offset of rubrics in red on fol. ii verso suggests that the psalms were originally preceded by another text.
[items 1–7 occupy quires I–XVI]
Psalms 1–150 (‘Incipit psalterium secundum ordinem fratrum predicatorum’) in the biblical order, laid out as prose, with titles ‘psalmus’ or ‘psalmus dauid’, without numbers. Punctuated throughout with punctus flexus used to mark the minor pauses, colon used to mark metrum and punctus used to mark the ends of verses. Psalms are accompanied by antiphons, versicles, responses, invitatoria, cues for canticles and hymns with rubrics and music (square notation on staves of four red lines). There are textual divisions at psalms 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97 and 109 (see ‘Decoration’). Subdivisions within psalms are not indicated, apart from psalm 118, subdivided into twenty-two 8-verse units. Rubrics indicate that the psalter was intended for secular use (e.g. ‘Ad nonam psalmus’ (fol. 83v) at psalm 118: 129, ‘Feria iija ad uesperas’ (fol. 86r) at psalm 121, ‘feria iiij ad uesperas’ (fol. 88r) at psalm 126).
Canticle Benedicite omnia opera, with a rubric ‘canticum’.
Weekly canticles with titles ‘canticum’ or ‘psalmus’:
- (1) Confitebor tibi domine (Isaiah 12);
- (2) Ego dixi (Isaiah 38: 10–21);
- (3) Exultavit cor meum (1 Samuel 2: 1–11);
- (4) Cantemus domino (Exodus 15: 1–20);
- (5) Domine audivi (Habakkuk 3);
- (6) Audite celi (Deuteronomy 32: 1–44).
Daily canticles, prayers and creeds, with titles ‘canticum’:
- (1) Benedictus dominus deus (fol. 106r);
- (2) Magnificat (fol. 106r);
- (3) Nunc dimittis (fol. 106v);
- (4) Athanasian Creed (Quicumque uult ... ) (fol. 106v);
- (5) Te deum laudamus (fol. 108r);
- (6) Apostles’ Creed (Credo in deum ... ) (fol. 108v).
Litany (‘Letanie maiores’) including Faustinus and Jovita of Brescia, and Peter of Verona (last) among the martyrs; Dominic (twice), Thomas (Aquinas (?)), Vincent (Ferrer (?)) and Francis among the confessors; Catherine (of Alexandria (?)), twice, and Catherine (of Siena (?)), once, among the virgins. The litany is followed by collects with rubrics ‘oratio’ (fol. 111r–v), the first six to the Virgin Mary, Dominic, Peter of Verona, Thomas Aquinas, Vincent Ferrer and Catherine of Alexandria:
- (1) Protege domine famulos tuos subsidiis pacis ...
- (2) Concede quesumus omnipotens deus ut qui peccatorum nostrorum pondere premimur ...
- (3) Preces quas tibi domine offerimus ...
- (4) Deus qui ecclesiam tuam beati thome confessoris tui mira eruditione clarificas ...
- (5) Deus qui gentium multitudinem mira beati uincentii confessoris tui ...
- (6) Deus qui dedisti legem moysi in summitate mortis ...
- (7) Ineffabilem misericordiam tuam nobis domine ...
- (8) Pretende domine famulis et famulabus tuis dexteram celestis auxilij ...
- (9) Ecclesie tue domine preces placatus admitte ut destructis aduersitatibus et erroribus ...
Hymnal with rubrics and music for the first strophe of most hymns (square notation on staves of four red lines). Most hymns are followed by instructions in black ink and smaller script, concerning the times of the year and Canonical Hours when they should be performed. Contains hymns for the year from Advent to Pentecost (fols. 112r–126v), followed by hymns for feasts and saints’ days (fols. 126v–150r), including Thomas Aquinas, Peter of Verona, Vincent Ferrer, Catherine of Siena, Praxedis, Dominic, Augustine, Remigius and Catherine of Alexandria, followed by hymns for the Common of Saints (fols. 150r–155v) and the Virgin Mary (fol. 156r–v). Conditor alme (Chevalier, no. 3733), Uerbum supernum prodiens a parte (Chevalier, no. 29391), Ueni redemptor gentium (Chevalier, no. 21243), Christe redemptor omnium ex patre (Chevalier, no. 2960), A solis ortu cardine (Chevalier, no. 26), Hostis herodes impie (Chevalier, no. 8073), A patre unigenitus (Chevalier, no. 14), O lux beata trinitas (Chevalier, no. 13150), Te lucis ante terminum (Chevalier, no. 20138), Nocte surgentes uigilemus (Chevalier, no. 12035), Ecce iam noctis tenuatur (Chevalier, no. 5129), Iam lucis orto sydere (Chevalier, no. 9272), Nunc sancte nobis spiritus (Chevalier, no. 12586), Rector potens uerax deus (Chevalier, no. 17061), Rerum deus tenax uigor (Chevalier, no. 17328), Lucis creator optime (Chevalier, no. 1068), Nocte surgentes uigilemus (opening lines with music), Iam lucis orto sydere (opening lines with music), Lucis creator optime (opening lines with music), Audi benigne conditor (Chevalier, no. 1449), Christe qui lux es et dies (Chevalier, no. 2934), Summi largitor premij spes (Chevalier, no. 19716), Iam christe sol iusticie (Chevalier, no. 9205), Uexilla Regis (Chevalier, no. 21481), Pange lingua gloriosi prelium (Chevalier, no. 14481), Lustra sex qui iam peracta (Chevalier, no. 10763), Ad cenam agni prouidi (Chevalier, no. 110), Iesu nostra redemptio (Chevalier, no. 9582), Aurora lucis rutilat (Chevalier, no. 1644), Sermone blando angelus (Chevalier, no. 18831), Iam lucis orto sydere (opening lines with music), Eterne rex altissime (Chevalier, no. 654), Tu criste nostrum gaudium (Chevalier, no. 20530), Beata nobis gaudia (Chevalier, no. 2339), Iam christus astra (Chevalier, no. 9215), Ueni creator spiritus (Chevalier, no. 21204), Adesto sancta trinitas (Chevalier, no. 487), O trinitas laudabilis (Chevalier, no. 13829), Pange lingua gloriosi corporis (Chevalier, no. 14467), Sacris solemnis (Chevalier, no. 17713), Uerbum supernum prodiens nec patris (Chevalier, no. 21398), Urbs beata ierusalem dicta pacis (Chevalier, no. 20918), Angulare fundamentum (Chevalier, no. 1081), Que uox que poterit (two stanzas from Sanctorum meritis inclyta gaudia (Chevalier, no. 18607)), Catherua matrum personat (stanza from A solis ortus cardine (Chevalier, no. 26)), Doctor egregie paule mores (Chevalier, no. 4791), Aue maris stella (Chevalier, no. 1889), Quem terra pontus ethera (Chevalier, no. 16347), O gloriosa domina excelsa (Chevalier, no. 13042), Iam bone pastor petre clemens (Chevalier, no. 9196), Exultet mentis iubilo laudans turba (Chevalier, no. 5873), Thomas insignis genere (Chevalier, no. 20428), Lauda mater ecclesia thome (Chevalier, no. 10213), Superna mater inclita (Chevalier, no. 19812), Iubar celorum prodiens (Chevalier, no. 9781), Aurora pulcra rutilans (Chevalier, no. 1655), Magne dies leticie nobis illuxit celitus petrus (Chevalier, no. 10942), Adest triumphus nobilis festumque (Chevalier, no. 435), Exultet claro sydere (Chevalier, no. 5815), Mente iocunda iubilent fideles (Chevalier, no. 11474), Lumen in terris populi (Chevalier, no. 10743), Magne uincenti noua lux (Chevalier, no. 10975), Hec tua uirgo monimenta laudis (Chevalier, no. 7655), Laudibus uirgo nimis efferenda (Chevalier, no. 10461), Iam ferox miles tibi sepe cessit (Chevalier, no. 9252), Salue crux sancta (Chevalier, no. 17875), Originale crimen necans (Chevalier, no. 14281), Eterne regi glorie (Chevalier, no. 629), Lauda fidelis cuntio spine (Chevalier, no. 10204), Ut queant laxis resonare (three parts; Chevalier, no. 21039), Aurea luce et decore (Chevalier, no. 1596), Oliue bine pietatis unice (Chevalier, no. 14034), Magne dies leticie nobis illuxit celitus maria (Chevalier, no. 10941), Lingua pangat et cor tangat (Chevalier, no. 10639), Hymnum festiue glorie dulci (Chevalier, no. 8272), Lauda mater ecclesia lauda christi clementiam (Chevalier, no. 10210), Eterni patris unice nos pio uultu respice (Chevalier, no. 667), Gaude mater ecclesia letam agens memoriam (Chevalier, no. 6852), Nouus athleta domini collaudetur (Chevalier, no. 12389), Hymnum noue leticie (Chevalier, no. 8285), Gaude mater pietatis in ualle (Chevalier, no. 6876), Exultet laudibus sacrata contio (Chevalier, no. 5872), Nouum sydus exoritur (Chevalier, no. 12374), Magne pater augustine preces nostras suscipe (Chevalier, no. 10868), Celi ciues applaudite (Chevalier, no. 3471), Tibi christe splendor (Chevalier, no. 20455), Christe sanctorum decus (Chevalier, no. 3000), Iste confessor domini sacratus sobrius (Chevalier, no. 9140), Iesu saluator seculi redemptis (Chevalier, no. 9677), Christe redemptor omnium conserua tuos famulos (Chevalier, no. 2959), Catherine collaudemus uirtutum insignia (Chevalier, no. 2693), Pange lingua gloriose uirginis martirium (Chevalier, no. 14457), Presens dies expendatur (Chevalier, no. 15310), Exultet celum laudibus (Chevalier, no. 5832), Eterna christi munera apostolorum gloriam (Chevalier, no. 590), Deus tuorum militum (Chevalier, no. 4534), Martir dei qui unicum patris (Chevalier, no. 11228), Sanctorum meritis inclita gaudia (Chevalier, no. 18607), Sanctorum meritis inclita gaudia (opening lines with music ‘in festo trium lectionum’), Eterna christi munera et martirum uictorias (Chevalier, no. 598), Iste confessor domini sacratus festa plebs (Chevalier, no. 9136), Iste confessor domini sacratus festa plebs (opening lines with music ‘in laudibus’), Iesu redemptor omnium corona confitentium (Chevalier, no. 9620), Uirginis proles opifexque matris (Chevalier, no. 21703), Uirginis proles opifexque matris (opening lines with music ‘in festo trium lectionum’), Ihesu corona uirginum (Chevalier, no. 9507), Huius obtentu (opening words of Chevalier, no. 8162 with music). Fols. 154v–156r are occupied by the opening lines of Iam lucis orto sydere with music for different types of feasts, whereas fol. 156r–v contains the opening lines of Ave maris stella, Quem terra pontus ethera and O gloriosa domina with music.
Dominican calendar for the use of Brescia, laid out one month per page, written in red and black, approximately two-thirds full, graded ‘memoria’, 3 lessons, ‘simplex’, ‘duplex’ and ‘totum duplex’. Contains the dedication of the church of St Catherine, Brescia (‘Dedicatio ecclesie sancte katherine’, 20 October) in red, not graded, and the feasts of Catherine of Alexandria (25 November), Dominic (‘beati dominici patris nostri’, 6 August) and his translation (24 May), Apollonius, bishop of Brescia (7 July), Catherine of Siena (30 April), Vincent Ferrer (5 April) and Faustinus and Jovita, patron saints of Brescia (15 February), all in red, as totum duplex. The months are headed by notes on the length of the solar and lunar month. 16th-century additions, all in the same hand, include: Dorothy (6 February), Apollonia (9 February), Constantius (12 February) as totum duplex with octave and translation (‘Translatio beati Constan(tii) in tertia dominica f ...’, 15 September), Pope Leo II (28 June), Margaret (13 July), Philastrius, bishop of Brescia (18 July), the Holy Maccabean Martyrs (1 August), ‘Ordinatio Beati Ambrosij’ (7 December) and the Immaculate Conception (‘Sanctificatio beate marie virginis’, 8 December) as totum duplex.
[item 8 occupies quire XVII]
Added examples of the eight tones of the psalms and the Gloria of the responsories (square notation on staves of four red lines), 16th century (?), beginning ‘Primus tonus sic incipit et sic flectitur et sic mediatur ...’.
Physical Description
Collation
Layout
Ruled in plummet with single vertical bounding lines extending the full height of page; 25 lines per page; written below the top line; written space: c. 135 × 100 mm.
Hand(s)
Formal Gothic book hands, black ink.
Square notation on staves of four red lines.
Decoration
Red or blue KL monograms, decorated with contrasting purple or red penwork, in the calendar.
Psalm 1 (initial B(eatus)) 8-line pink initial on gold background, decorated with foliage and white arabesque designs, with half-figure of King David, playing psaltery; the face of God above in rays of light; trees in the background.
(full border) Filigree scrolls, flowers, fruit, leaves and gold discs in a frame, outlined in gold and blue; laurel wreath with a shield of arms (party per fess, in chief argent two leopard’s paws or, in base gules, a dove argent bearing an olive-branch proper); panels with half-figures of Mary Magdalene and St Margaret; peacock.
6-line red or blue initials, decorated with contrasting purple or red penwork and green, blue and yellow wash, and penwork borders at the beginnings of psalms 26 (fol. 17v), 38 (fol. 26v), 52 (fol. 35r), 68 (fol. 44r), 80 (fol. 54v), 97 (fol. 64v), 109 (fol. 74v) and the hymnal (fol. 112r).
2-line alternating red and blue initials with contrasting purple or red penwork at the beginnings of psalms, canticles, litany, prayers and hymns.
1-line alternating plain red and blue initials at the beginnings of verses and periods.
Rubrics in red.
Binding
16th century, Italian, Brescia: wood boards; polished dark brown leather, gilt-tooled all over on each cover with lines and stamps including an acorn, a grapevine roll, and at centre a Virgin and Child on a crescent moon within an oval of rays and between letters ‘.B.’ and ‘.P.’; spine with gilt lines and stamps (re-laid); edges gilt, gauffered (worn), after trimming of contents; two fore-edge clasps with embroidered red/blue fabric straps, and gilt catches and catch-plates embossed with ?classical figures. Gilt spine-label and carta bassanese endleaves added, 18th century, Italy; rebacked, 19th/20th century, Bodleian. 193–195 × 146–149 × c. 38–43 mm. (book closed). MS. made for the Dominican nunnery of St Catherine, Brescia; similar binding at MS. Douce 272, from Brescia.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Made for the Dominican convent of St Catherine, Brescia: dedication of the church, 20 October, in the calendar. The presence of Catherine of Siena in the calendar, hymnal and litany suggests that the psalter was made after her canonization in 1461.
Initials ‘B’ and ‘P’ on the binding, and ‘F. B. B.’ and ‘F. P. M.’ written in black ink on fol. ii recto, 16th century (?).
16th-century additions in the calendar including the feasts of San Costanzo of Niardo (12 February, 19 February, 15 September). His body was translated to the Benedictine nunnery of San Salvatore (or Santa Giulia) in Brescia in 1481. The additions also include Philastrius, bishop of Brescia (18 July).
Matteo Luigi Canonici of Venice (1727–c. 1806), but not from the libraries of Soranzo or Trevisan (Mitchell, 1969).
Bodleian Library: bought in 1817 from Canonici’s nephew Giovanni Perissinotti.
Record Sources
Digital Images
Digital Bodleian (1 image from 35mm slides)
Bibliography
Select bibliography to 2006:
Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
Last Substantive Revision
2024-07: Encode full description from Solopova catalogue.