The Latin Office of the Dead in mediaeval manuscripts from the territory of Slovakia

Abstract

The contents and the surviving part of medieval manuscripts in Europe were influenced by the Christianization process. Monophonic liturgical chant, the cantus planus, or plainchant, which accompanied the liturgical celebrations, was a dominant representative of musical culture. Migrations of cultural, religious, and artistic stimuli, which influenced the religious centres, institutions, towns, and individuals, were a frequent phenomenon in medieval society. The transfer of stimuli, inspirations, and artistic models led to liturgical music and its components (musical content, liturgy, notation) becoming firmly established. As part of the stratification of local elements and transregional connections, in the research process on the components of chant, we identified a specific repertoire of the medieval Office of the Dead in manuscripts from the territory of Slovakia. Based on the analysis of the chants of the responsories of the Matins, we traced the provenance and musical characteristics of selected manuscripts from the territory of Slovakia.