The Żarnowiec Gradual

Abstract

The Żarnowiec Gradual includes four music notation manuscripts of the 15^th century, stored in the Benedictine Nuns Monastery in Żarnowiec, Pomerania region. The total consists of two completes of texts. Małgorzata Koelers, the nun, is mentioned as a copyist in colophons, known from other sources as well. The funders were Gertruda Koelers from Elbląg and her daughter. The author describes in detail particular volumes of the manuscript, including either formal or content features. On that ground she analyses the following topics: which saints were worshipped in the Żarnowiec community of Cistercian nuns, what was the Gradual history and its usability in further centuries. The Benedictine Nuns from Żarnowiec worshipped 115 saints during a year. Interesting is a small number of popular saints from mendicant orders (only three of them). Lack is (among others) Saint Clara and Saint Dominic. Saint Francis of Assisi is only mentioned in a note. There is also no information about Saint Hedwig. After content analysis of the Gradual (in regard of celebrated holidays) the author states that it is an example revealing dilatory realisation of regulations of the order’s authorities (general chapter). Analysis of annotations from the year 1689 (the Kujawy bishop’s decision on transfer of the monastery to the Benedictine Nuns from Chełmno, in the result of which antiphonaries were to be moved to the Cistercians from Oliwa) leads to the conclusion that the manuscript was not transferred to Oliwa and could have been used for singing in Żarnowiec until the end of the 17^th century. Today the manuscript is undergoing conservatory treatment in Toruń.