Large Spanish Gregorian chant leaf, c. 1525.: Decorative initial.

"The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just."

Recto:Six lines of music written on parchment in square neumes on red-ruled four-line staves with a key signature. Rubrics in red. The accompanying text is written in Latin in a refined gothic rotunda bookhand. One illuminated initial - "L" - in blue with decorative red penwork.

Verso: As Recto with two illuminated initials and a number CLXXIIII in the margin.

Source: Probably Spain

Date: Early part of the 16th century - c. 1525

Content: The leaf includes part of the Gregorian chant Os Justi (The mouth of the righteous). The text is taken from two verses of Psalm 36 (KJV 37) and reads: Os justi meditabitur sapientiam: et lingua ejus loquetur judicium. Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius: et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. (The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart: and his feet do not falter.

Condition: The Recto of this leaf is in very good condition with the expected minor browning & creasing, marking from page-turning and surface dirt. Verso has some ink loss, but the text & music notation remains legible. The leaf is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.

Size: Size of leaf: approx. 555x410mm. Text and music area : approx. 390x270 mm. Presented in a museum quality mat, ready to frame.

Notes: Anton Bruckner composed a sacred motet using these words in 1879.