Theodore Karp collection of liturgical and musical manuscript leaves

Collection

Collection MS-2017-027: Theodore Karp collection of liturgical and musical manuscript leaves

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: circa 1200-1799
Creation: Majority of material found within circa 1300-1599

Scope & Content

The Theodore Karp collection of liturgical and musical manuscript leaves consists of excerpts from medieval and early modern manuscripts dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The leaves come from liturgical and musical texts, including: antiphonals, choirooks, graduals, missals, and one leaf from a book of hours. Most are handwritten on parchment; a few later leaves that are printed and on paper are noted as such in the description.

Creator

Karp, Theodore (Person)

Language of Materials

Latin.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research; digital version also available.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note

Theodore Karp was born on July 17, 1926 in New York City. He received a BA from Queens College at the City University of New York in 1947, and also attended the Juilliard School of Music and the Catholic University of Leuven. He earned a PhD from New York University in 1960. Throughout his career as a musicologist, he taught at University of California-Davis and Northwestern University. He retired from teaching in 1996, and died on November 5, 2015.

Sources:

"Professor Emeritus Theodore Karp (1926-2015)." Northwestern University, Bienen School of Music. November 10, 2015. https://www.music.northwestern.edu/news/2015/theodore-karp-1926-2015

"Theodore Karp, music scholar at Northwestern University, dies at 89." The Chicago Tribune. November 12, 2015. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-theodore-karp-obituary-met-20151112-story.html

Useful terms

This collection contains leaves from medieval and early modern liturgical and devotional books. Liturgical books contain the instructions for religious services, while devotional books are for personal religious usage.

Terms:

Antiphon: a short chant sung in refrain to a psalm during the liturgy.

Book of Hours: a book containing Biblical readings for each day intended for personal use.

Choirbook: a book containing the musical components of Catholic Mass. There are two kinds: antiphonal and gradual. Antiphonal is a book of chants sung in refrain for the Divine Office (canonical hours of the day). A gradual is a book of chants sung by the choir during Mass.

Missal: a book containing the instructions and text for the Mass, including music.

Matins: a service that is part of the Divine Office (canonical hours of the day), performed at midnight.

Vespers: a service that is part of the Divine Office, performed at sunset.

Sources:

"Antiphon." Oxford Reference. 14 Jan. 2019. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095417317

"Choir book." Oxford Reference. 21 Dec. 2018. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095609414

"Divine office." Oxford Reference. 14 Jan. 2019. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100246482

"Missal." Oxford Reference. 21 Dec. 2018. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110810105417644

"Book of Hours." Oxford Reference. 21 Dec. 2018. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095517834

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 containers)

Additional Description

Abstract

A collection of leaves from medieval and early modern manuscripts, including: antiphonals, missals, graduals, choirbooks, and one leaf from a book of hours.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Provenance

Purchased from J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians, LLC (2017).

Existence of digital copies

This collection is available digitally. Links are included in the inventory.

Related Materials

Augustinian gradual with the sanctorale, common of the saints and kyriale, MS.2005.059, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Book of Hours, MS.1986.083, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Connolly book of hours, MS.1986.097, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Franciscan antiphoner (sanctorale) with sequences, MS.1996.097, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Illumination of the Crucifixion from a Missal: use of Troyes, MS.1986.044, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.