Dominican Venitarium, in Latin [Spain, 15th century]

400x285mm, 26 leaves, vellum, complete, in 3 quires of 8 leaves and a final bifolium, six lines of text and music on five-line red staves, 275x190mm, rastrum 30mm, decorated with small initials; lower margin of first leaf torn, some stains and smudges; sewn into a limp vellum wrapper formed of a document in Spanish, fastening with toggles and loops, somewhat worn and stained

This is an example of A RARE TYPE OF MANUSCRIPT, known as a Venitare or Venitarium, or sometimes an Invitatorium; it is devoted to the musical settings of the so-called Invitatory Psalm, Psalm 94, which begins ‘Venite exultemus …’ (Come, let us praise …), and is sung at the beginning of Matins, with different antiphons depending on the day and liturgical season. The text is usually found as a component part within an office book such as a noted Breviary or Antiphonary, but very rarely as a separate volume. The text is arranged according to 7 tones (De primo tono, f.1r, … De vij tono, f.23v), and the feasts include Peter Martyr (f.1r), and Dominic (f.10v).

Inscribed, 17th(?)-century, 'Mi señora Doña Cat Salina de el santo' (f.26v).