During the project From manuscript fragments to book history (2012-2017) the team of scholars experimented with different ways of reassembling fragments into virtual manuscripts. Although we cannot get away from the fact that most of the manuscript is gone, we can through digital reproductions once again leaf through some of the manuscripts from Norwegian book chests – however fragmentary they may be.
France, 13th century
This breviary consists of 14 surviving fragments taken from 9 different account books of Tønsberg. The reconstructed book contains chants and one reading text for several occasions: St Stephen, Epiphany, the feria 4 and 5 after the first Sunday after Epiphany, Dominica Quinquagesimae/Septuagesimae, Easter, Peter and Paul, and St Peter in chains. These occasions are spread throughout the year, indicating that all or most of the book was used as binding material in Tønsberg.
The reconstructed breviary is about 250 cm tall and 200 cm wide, with a one-column layout. The script is small, round and well-executed, with initials and capitals in blue and red. The music is noted with square neumes on staves, one clear sign that the book was made in the 13th century.
