Step 2: Saints in the Margins

Although the musical additions in Western MS 097 lead us no closer to the manuscript's chronological or geographical origins, they remind us that the medieval liturgy was a living and continuously negotiated tradition. As the manuscript changed hands over the years, later scribes corrected and altered the chant repertory and added some masses for specific liturgical occasions.

The images collected in the gallery below show leaves containing saints' feasts penned into the margins of Western MS 097. Click on an image once to view a page containing its metadata. To view a high quality version of the image, click on the thumbnail at the bottom of the metadata page.

Paleographical evidence suggests that two hands contributed the marginal additions. Hand 1, which may date from as late as the 15th century, is seen on folios 206v, 218r, 224r, 233v, 241r, 242v, 243r, 249r. 252r. 254v, and 258r. Hand 2, which is probably from an earlier date, is seen on folios 233r and 241v. Details of additions in these hands appear at the bottom of the gallery. (See Paleography for a closer analysis.)

See the Discussion for a summary overview of issues raised by the marginal saints on view here, and Spotlight on a Feast for a short history of the theological disputes behind the Conception of the Virgin Mary, a feast penned into the margin of folio 206v.