Antiphonary, Dominican
Spain, fifteenth or sixteenth century
Canadian Mennonite University/Mennonite Heritage Centre Archive, Loewen 5

This book, the largest in the exhibit, is an Antiphonary, containing the chants for the Liturgical Offices. As Vespers was the most elaborate of the Offices as far as music was concerned, the chants for Vespers are well represented in this book. With its just over 100 vellum leaves, this Antiphonary includes the chants for the Offices from Easter to Corpus Christi, including, of course, the chants for Ascension and Pentecost. The illuminations in this book are particularly colourful and imaginative. Included are not only folk-art-like flowers and vines, but also a number of birds which are symbols of Christ: most notably the peacock, the owl, the pelican, and the phoenix, as seen below.