The origins of liturgical music traditionally date back to St. Gregory the Great (d. 604), who was inspired by the Holy Dove to record the principles of 'Gregorian' chant. The Gradual contained the musical parts of the Missal and was sung from the steps (gradus) of the altar. The Antiphoner contained the musical sections of the Breviary. These terms have become interchangeable in modern times. Because of their size and complexity, these manuscripts were still being handmade in the traditional way for centuries after the introduction of printing. They were boldly hand-written and illuminated on large sheets of sturdy vellum so that the entire choir could read from one book.

This impressive elephant folio sheet of vellum contains four-line music in red and black ink with an illuminated initial in red, blue and gold and a superb border decoration on verso in red, blue, green and gold. The song is part of the feast on Saturday of the 5th week of Lent and translates in part as:

And one of them, named Caiaphas, when he was high priest that year, prophesied, saying, "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation perish."

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Condition: B+

Light toning and soiling with a hole in the top margin and some extraneous creasing at bottom.