Literary Criticism

This is the first book about the only Welsh antiphonal known, and it discusses in particular the material for services celebrating the memory of the Welsh patron saint. The `Penpont Antiphonal’, National Library of Wales MS. 20541 E, is the only source known of the Latin rhymed Office of St David. An introduction to this fourteenth-century antiphonal includes a full listing and description of its contents. In Part 2 of the book Professor Edwards is concerned to show the significance of the Office of St David. The chants and the literary text are described and discussed, supported by full transcriptions of the musical and literary texts, and by facsimile reproduction of the manuscript folios. The office is considered in its historical perspective: its relationship to other similar late medieval offices and to Rhigyfarch’s Life of St David, the importance of this rare survivor …condition info: Missing dust cover. Has a sturdy binding with some shelf wear. May have light markings on pages.