Untitled

64 LATIN CHANT BEFORE ST. GREGORY
manuscripts of the twelfth century in Guidonian script, nor even the few
known fragments of the tenth century with cheironomic and rhythmic
neums, though these are all precious witnesses to the Ambrosian melodic
tradition; they are rather the palimpsest fragments of the seventh century,
which testify to the existence in those early days of Ambrosian neums and
melodies, even if it has been impossible so far to decipher a single phrase. 1
The editions published by Suiiol are the Praeconium Paschak (Milan,
1934); the Antiphonale Missarum (Rome, 1935); Canti Ambrosianiper
il popolo (Milan, 1936); Liber Vesper alls (Rome, 1939); Officiwn et
Missa pro Defunctis cum exsequiarum ordine (Rome, 1939). Sunol
was preparing the Directorium Chori and the Processionale when
death overtook him, and he left almost finished a monograph on the
editorial method and research lying behind his editions. In both the
Antiphonarium Missarum and the Liber Vesperalis a certain amount
of patchwork was necessary in order to complete the volumes. The
hymns number 65, but there are only 23 melodies used for them.
In Sunol's editions the Ambrosian music has made a great contribu
tion to the treasures of the Latin Church, preserving for us precious
jewels of this most ancient popular chant, hitherto unknown.
Surviving the persecutions and crises of many centuries, the only
source outside Rome to be saved from the wreck, this Ambrosian
chant has, in our own day, found a glorious resurrection, thus :
Ex. 13 (a)
Psalmellus
lfw ' j|h|l v*-m*
Haecdi- es quamfe- citDo-mi- nus:ex-sul-te- mus m et lae-
le mur Confite- mi-ni 'Domi- no
Ex.i3(b)
-mi - nus: ex - sul-te. . "
-,mus~
1
Ambrosius, xii (1936), p. 68.
to be unknown.
The present whereabouts of these palimpsests seems
a
Antiphonale Missarum, p. 208.