Choirbook

A Choirbook is a large format manuscript used by choirs in churches or cathedrals during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The book is large enough for the entire choir to read from one book. Choirbooks were generally put on a stand with the smaller boy sopranos in front and the men in back. As the printing of music became easier and paper replaced vellum, choirbooks fell out of favour, replaced by smaller, cheaper, and easier to handle partbooks and octavos.

One opening (fol. 19v-20r) of the Chigi codex, showing the Kyrie of Ockeghem's Missa Ecce ancilla Domini. Cantus and tenor are on the left page, contratenor and bassus on right.

A choirbook was a major investment. Many of them were stark and utilitarian and show signs of heavy and constant use. At larger cathedrals, choirbooks were sometimes lavishly decorated and illuminated. Since they represent an important expense, they were rarely owned by single people, but rather by families or institutions.

Major choirbooks

• Eton Choirbook
• Caius Choirbook
• Lambeth Choirbook
• Pepys Choirbook

External links

• Digitized choirbooks Archived 2013-08-23 at Archive.today at Spanish National Library
• Die Chorbücher der BSB introduction to Bavarian State Library digitalization project with videos of conservation work. (German)

Further reading

• Boehm, B (2008). Choirs of angels : painting in Italian choir books, 1300-1500. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Choirbooks at San Millán de la Cogolla

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The gregorian introit for Easter, "Resurrexi" illuminated by Juan de Carrión (15th century); Museum of the Cathedral of Ávila, Spain

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Circa 1500 woodcut

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