Manuscript Fun! (Part 3: In Paradisum)
Every so often, I stumble across a wonderful manuscript that just “begs” to be sung from anew. The trouble is that medieval manuscripts often feature… scripts that are very difficult to decipher for the uninitiated. Not only is this due to the handwriting/font itself, but also to the contractions which were often employed as a common shorthand at the time: for instance, scãm is short for “sanctam” or cu (with a squiggle) for “cum” and angelóu for “angelorum”.
Consequently, I have twice “photoshopped” Christmas manuscripts (see here & here) to include a font that was more easily decipherable by the uninitiated. This seems worth the effort, because we have a tendency to chant differently when looking at an ancient manuscript. It’s also beautiful and touching to hold something of our true patrimony in our hands, and think, “I’m chanting from the same notes that monks and nuns chanted from 8 centuries ago!” And as much as I love the work of the monks of Solesmes, there is something sterile in a perfectly uniform tradition, when there were so many beautiful little local usages and customs prior.
Thus, today marks my third contribution to this series: a beautiful manuscript of In Paradisum as featured in a manuscript from Flanders dated 1351.
Of particular interest in this specific case are the alterations to the melody, and most strikingly, the ending. This is what piqued my interest and made me desire to chant this version. The notes themselves are easily decipherable, but as mentioned above, the text is less-so, especially since it is faded. So here is the new version with a font that still maintains the character of the manuscript:
Click the image to download your complementary PDF.
Very tight spacing (as in the original) was required to fit everything in at a similar scale, and in one or two instances, contractions had to be maintained, however I trust, dear reader, that if you’re intrepid enough to print and sing from this PDF, then that will not be a problem for you!
As you can see, a demo recording is available, and you are welcome to share this edited version with your colleagues. I pray you will be intrepid enough to actually chant it at a funeral.
Pax et bonum,
James
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