Rare music and rarer Byrds

The Reed Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts Collection includes a number of music scores from these periods. What better time than May music month to bring them out and let them shine?

Most surviving medieval and renaissance music scores are of a religious nature and written for voice, not instrumental. Those in the Reed Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts Collection are no exception. Our earliest score is this Latin Antiphonal from 13th century England, comprising two leaves. Fittingly for this time of year, the second leaf, shown here back and front view, is an antiphonal for Maundy Thursday. You’ll notice the musical notation is different to modern scores. The notations are called neumes and in this and most of our examples, they are on a 4-line stave.

The collection has four examples from the 14th century including the following, a Latin antiphonal from Germany. It is a single leaf, part of Vespers for the feast of All Saints. This one is more decorative than the 13th century example, with calligraphic initial letters in red or blue with contrasting penwork, and musical notation is again on a 4-line stave.

Being written for voice, the notes are less precise than those of modern musical notation. The key is frequently indicated with a clef at the top left of the stave. The first 9 lines on the page above are notated with a C clef. On the second page of this piece, shown below, the clef denotes the key of F.

The other three examples from the 14th century are part of First Vespers and Matins for the Nativity of the Virgin; part of the Office of Matins for Christmas Day - this piece is from Northern Italy. And this item from England is part of the Offices for Palm Sunday and the Monday of Passion Week.

The 15th century example below is more decorative again. It is another Latin antiphonal from Germany, part of the Vespers and Matins for the feast of St Andrew. Notice the large initial ‘U’ with full colour floral border and the small initials in red and blue. The musical notation is in Hufnagelschrift neumes on a 5-line stave.

You can visit https://dunedin.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/202406 for another 15th century example.

If you’re interested in learning about the musical notation you might like to take a look at this Youtube clip on reading medieval musical notation.

Enjoy a sample of early music by The Rare Byrds

Rare Byrds is a Dunedin-based early music consort specialising in Renaissance and early Baroque music and theatre. They perform in sumptuous costumes and stages masques, puppet shows and other theatre pieces as well as giving concerts.

Enjoy this example of early music by the Rare Byrds. The piece is called Fairy Round.