Medieval Music Database

Historiated Letters in The Rimini Antiphonal

The decoration of this manuscript has been attributed to Neri da Rimini: see Margaret M. Manion and Vara Vines, Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts in Australian Collections, London: Thames and Hudson, 1984 p. 58. See also Neri da Rimini: Il Trecento riminese tra pittura e scrittura Milano, Electa, 1995, pp. 176-180.

1. Mission of the Apostles, folio 4v
2. A saint, folio 35r
3. Christ and two saints, folio 46v
4. Christ blessing a Bishop and confessors, folio 126r
5. Christ blessing four saints, folio 143r
6. Virgin crowned by and angel, folio 147r
7. Abishop dedicating a church, folio 197r
8. Christ with Franciscans attending a friar's deathbed, folio 234r

Decorated Letters in The Rimini Antiphonal

1. T of Tradent eum, folio 1r
2. H of Hoc est preceptum, folio 24r
3. I of Iuravit Dominus, folio 16r
4. I of Iste sanctus, folio 18r
5. Q of Qui me confessus, folio 30r
6. O of Omnes sancti, folio 47v
7. I of Isti sunt sancti, folio 49v
8. E of Ecce sacerdos, folio 66r
9. S of Simulabo eum viro, folio 69r
10. D of Domine quinque talenta, folio 82r
11. H of Haec est virgo, folio 97v
12. D of Dum esset Rex, folio 102r
13. D of Domun Tuam, folio 116v
14. V of Venite exutemus, folio 119v
15. E of Exultabunt Domino ossa humiliata, folio 135v
16. P of Placebo Domino in regione vivorum, folio 137r
17. V of Venite exutemus, folio 139r
18. V of Venite exutemus, folio 142v
19. V of Venite exutemus, folio 145v
20. V of Venite exutemus, folio 149r
21. V of Venite exutemus, folio 152v

Palimpsest folios in The Rimini Antiphonal

The 40 palimsested folios of this manuscript document its use over at least 250 years. The original manuscript is dated 1328 on folio 1; the changes to the music and text conform to the recommendations by Giovanni Guidetti in his Directorium Chori, Rome, first edition 1582. These directions apply the principles established by Giovanni Palestrina and Annibale Zoilo, in thir reform of liturgical chant following the Council of Trent, to the Divine Office; changes to the Mass chants were published in the Graduale Romanum of 1614/15 (the 'Editio Medicea'). For durther details of this manuscript, including a full codicological description, its scribe, provenance and the significance of the palimpsests, see John Stinson, 'The Rimini Antiphonal: palimpsest music and Renaissance liturgical practice' in Reading Texts and Images: Essays on Medieval and Renaissance Art and Patronage edited by Bernard J. Muir. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2001, pp. 57-92.

1. folio 1r, Vespers, Commune Apostolorum: Tradent enim vos in conciliis
2. folio 14v, Lauds, Commune Apostolorum: Majorem caritatem nemo habet
3. folio 15r, Lauds, Commune Apostolorum: Vos amici mei estis si
4. folio 16v, Vespers 2, Commune Apostolorum: Collocet eum dominus cum
5. folio 17r, Vespers 2, Commune Apostolorum: Confortatus est principatus eo
6. folio 18r, Vespers, Commune unius Martyris: Iste est qui pro lege dei sui
7. folio 30v, Lauds, Commune unius Martyris: Qui mihi ministrat me
8. folio 31r, Lauds, Commune unius Martyris: Si quis per me intraverit
9. folio 32v, Vespers, Commune plurimiorum Martyrum: Istorum est enim regnum
10. folio 48v, Lauds, Commune plurimiorum Martyrum: Corpora sanctorum in pace
11. folio 49r, Lauds, Commune plurimiorum Martyrum: Vestri capilli capitis omnes
12. folio 50v, Vespers 2, Commune plurimiorum Martyrum: Sanctorum sicut aquilae
13. folio 51r, Vespers 2, Commune plurimiorum Martyrum: Absterget deus omnem lacrimam
14. folio 52v, Vespers, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Sacerdos et pontifex et
15. folio 53r, Vespers, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: O doctor optime, Ecclesiae
16. folio 66r, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Non est inventus similis illi
17. folio 66v, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Sacerdotes dei benedicite
18. folio 67r, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Serve bone et fidelis intra
19. folio 68r, Vespers 2, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Amavit eum dominus et ornavit
20. folio 68v, Vespers 2, Commune unius Confessoris Pontificis: Dum esset summus pontifex
21. folio 69r, Matins, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificis: Similabo eum viro sapienti
22. folio 82r, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificis: Domine quinque talenta
23. folio 82v, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificis: Euge serve bone et fidelis
24. folio 83r, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificiu: Beatus ille servus cum
25. folio 83v, Laudes, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificiu: Serve bone et fidelis intra
26. folio 84r, Vespers 2, Commune unius Confessoris non Pontificiu: Hic vir despiciens mundum et
27. folio 85r, Vespers, Comm. Virginum: Prudentes virgines aptate
28. folio 89r, Matins, Comm. Virginum: Veni sponsa Christi accipe
29. folio 97v, Lauds, Comm. Virginum: Haec est virgo sapiens et una
30. folio 98r, Lauds, Comm. Virginum: Haec est quae nescivit
31. folio 98v, Lauds, Comm. Virginum: Veni electa mea et ponam te
32. folio 99r, Lauds, Comm. Virginum: Ista est speciosa inter filias
33. folio 100r, Lauds, Comm. Virginum: Veni sponsa Christi accipe
34. folio 101v, Vespers, Non-V non-M: Manum suam aperuit inopi
35. folio 102r, Lauds, Non-V non-M: Dum esset rex in accubitu suo
36. folio 102v, Lauds, Non-V non-M: Iam hiems transiit, imber abii
37. folio 103r, Lauds, Non-V non-M: Veni electa mea et ponam in
38. folio 116v, Lauds, In dedicatione ecclesiae: Domus mea, domus orationis
39. folio 117r, Lauds, In dedicatione ecclesiae: Haec est domus domini
40. folio 117v, Lauds, In dedicatione ecclesiae: Lapides pretiosi omnes muri

Content Approved by: MMDB Director
Last updated: Sunday, 2 March 2003