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| Title Page of the Humbert Codex |
I am pleased to announce that, through the kindness of one of my Dominican brothers, I can now make available for download from the left sidebar of
Dominican Liturgy a color digital version of the Master of the Order’s version of the so-called Humbert Codex. This manuscript (Rome: Santa Sabina MS XIV L1) is the prototype for the medieval (and early-modern) Dominican Liturgy. The image to the left is the title page of this manuscript and lists its contents:
- Ordinarium
- Martyrologium
- Collectarium
- Processionarium
- Psalterium
- Breviarium
- Lectionarium
- Antiphonarium
- Graduale
- Pulpitarium
- Missale Conventuale
- Evangelistarium
- Epistolarium
- Missale Minorum Altarium
This manuscript was compiled by the Master of the Order
Humbert of Romans in accord with the commission of the Dominican General Chapter of Buda in 1254 and approved by the General Chapter of Paris in 1256. Except for additional feasts and the Psalter Reform of St. Pius X, the texts of this document were authoritative as
the prototype for Dominican liturgical books. This actual copy was carried by Masters of the Order during visitations to correct the books of our houses. Those who would like copies of the images for each of the parts may download them as zip files on the left sidebar under the heading “Dominican Chant Books--Downloadable.” I have divided the files so that they are not excessively large (they total 2.8 gigabytes!) Even, so some of these files, especially those with lots of music, like the
Graduale and the
Antiphonarium, are very large, so do be patient as they download. Before the listing of the files, there is also a link to download the
typescript index prepared by Fr. William Bonniwell in the 1950s. It will make it much easier to find particular texts or music.
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