ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MUSIC LEAF FROM A GRADUALE/ANTIPHONAL IN SOUTH AFRICA

This is a leaf from a Graduale/Antiphonal Romanum. It was produced in Ilbenstadt, Germany in 1725-1726. Colophon at the head of the original book read "Anno quo Jacobus Andreae Brandt Successor consecratus est hocceopus offerebat ". This specific leaf (220) contains the Mass that is celebrated during the Easter season. A Roman Gradual or "Graduale Romanum" is an official liturgical book containing chants for use at Mass. This leaf was exquisitely produced by hand for a choir, with fine titles in red and black and with six staves to a full page. Each stave was drawn with a five-pen instrument with additional red and yellow lines. The leaf has decorative borders, decorative head-pieces and large initials. The text is in Latin. The leaf measures 410mm x 370mm. The great size of antiphonals allowed for them to be seen by multiple members of a choral section. This leaf was produced 30 years before the birth of Mozart. The thick hand-made paper is of the finest quality and is still in excellent condition after almost 300 years! Ideal for framing.