Music as Divine Order

This small, beautifully written and richly decorated liturgical psalter from the fifteenth century must have been intended for individual use. The forms of the hymn melodies are not those of the Use of Sarum, but of those found in Benedictine chant books. It has been speculated that the volume could have come from Worcester. Queens’ MS 29 gives the texts of the psalms, canticles and regular hymns sung week by week at the Divine Office (eight services each day), together with the Litany of Office of the Dead. A hymnal is appended with texts and melodies of hymns for the seasons and feasts of the year.

This opening shows Advent hymns with an illuminated initial C depicting Christ (left) blessing a kneeling figure on the right under a red cloud with white stars.

Title: Psalter (15th century)
Shelfmark: Queens’ College MS 29
Provenance: Gift of John Cabourne on his matriculation to the College in 1632

MS 29