Llibre Vermell de Montserrat

The Llibre Vermell de Montserrat ( Catalan for " Red Book of Montserrat " ) is a collection of late medieval songs and liturgical texts. The manuscript from the 14th century is still kept in the monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona in Catalonia.

Handwriting

The manuscript was built around 1399 and originally contained 172 pages, of which 35 were lost over the centuries, or were destroyed. Of the 137 received pages 12 songs and notes included ( fol. 21v to 27). The current title of the manuscript refers to the red cover, in which the pages in the 19th century were bound.

Background

The Benedictine monastery at Montserrat was around the time of the creation of the manuscript an important pilgrimage center of Marian devotion. The Llibre Vermell contains songs and poems that served to Marian devotion. He, for example, contains the first example of the traditional up to the present Goigs ( folk poems on the Seven Joys of Mary ), Los gotxs set recomptarem.

Liedersammlung

The songs are mostly provided with Latin, partly also with Catalan or Occitan texts. The purpose of the collection of songs contained denotes the anonymous editor as follows ( fol. 22):

There was no accommodation in Montserrat, the pilgrims had to spend the night in the church. They transformed as the liturgical space in a pilgrim hostel. The songs of the Llibre Vermell were meant to replace the traditional secular songs and dances of celebration pilgrims during the service. To achieve this, these songs have partly a folk sound. This, the melodies were probably used by traditional songs, while the secular texts were replaced by religious.

Although the lyrics were even written down until the end of the 14th century, it is likely due to the style of the songs are even older. The motet Imperayritz of Ciutat joyosa contains two different texts that can be sung simultaneously. This style was in compiling the collection of songs already no longer in use.

Received songs

Have survived a total of ten songs, three canons or cacas, two polyphonic songs and five dances

• Fol. 21v -22: O virgo splendens " Oh luminous Virgo " ( three -part canon )
• Fol. 22r: Stella splendens " Shining Star " ( round dance / Virelai )
• Fol. 23: Laudemus Virginem " We glorify the Virgin " ( three -part canon )
• Fol. 23: Splendens ceptigera " Radiant ruler " ( three -part canon )
• Fol. 23v: Go set gotxs recomptarem " The Seven Joys report " ( round dance / ballad )
• Fol. 24v: Polorum Regina "Queen of Heaven" ( round dance / Virelai )
• Fol. 25r: Mariam, matrem Virginem, attolite "Praise to Mary, the Virgin Mother " ( polyphonic / Virelai )
• Fol. 25v: Imperayritz de la Ciutat joyosa / Verges ses par misericordiosa " Empress of the joyous city / Virgin of Mercy" ( motet / polyphonic )
• Fol. 26v: Ad mortem Festinamus " We rush toward death " (dance / Virelai )