A recently discovered fragment of music found in the pages of Scotland’s first full-length printed book is shedding light on the soundscape of five centuries ago. The piece, part of a sacred text called The Aberdeen Breviary, offers rare insight into pre-Reformation Scotland’s musical traditions and is the only surviving piece of music from the region from that time.
The Discovery
Researchers from Edinburgh College of Art and KU Leuven in Belgium have been examining the fragment, which contains only 55 notes. The music is thought to have originated in the early 16th century, offering a glimpse into the sacred music sung in Scottish religious institutions. The findings have been published in Music & Letters.
The score was discovered in a copy of The Aberdeen Breviary from 1510. This book, used for daily worship, contains prayers, hymns, psalms, and readings. The fragment was found in the “Glamis copy” of the breviary, which was previously held at Glamis Castle and is now housed in the National Library of Scotland.
Musical Significance
Despite the lack of text or title, researchers identified the fragment as a polyphonic harmonization of the hymn Cultor Dei, a night-time prayer sung during Lent. Polyphony—using multiple, independent melodies—was common in Scottish religious institutions at the time, but few examples have survived.
David Coney, a member of the research team from Edinburgh College of Art, described the moment of discovery as a “Eureka” moment for musicologists. He noted that identifying the music’s relationship to the Gregorian chant melody allowed the team to reconstruct the missing parts of the hymn. This made it possible to hear the music after nearly five centuries of silence.
Historical Context
The Aberdeen Breviary was commissioned by King James IV to produce books for Scottish religious practices, eliminating the need for imported texts. This particular copy is believed to have originated in the Aberdeenshire region, with possible connections to St. Mary’s Chapel in Rattray and Aberdeen Cathedral.
The research team also discovered how the book was used over the centuries. Originally the private service-book of a high-ranking chaplain’s illegitimate son, it later became a family heirloom, passing through the hands of a Scottish Catholic who traveled from post-Reformation Scotland to the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires.
Insights and Future Discoveries
Dr. Paul Newton-Jackson, lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of marginalia in uncovering new insights about music from the period. The discovery suggests that there may be more musical treasures hidden in the margins of other 16th-century printed books held in Scottish libraries and archives.
Dr. James Cook, of Edinburgh College of Art, added that the research challenges the long-held belief that pre-Reformation Scotland lacked significant sacred music. Despite the destruction caused by the Reformation, evidence like this shows a strong tradition of music-making in Scotland’s churches, chapels, and cathedrals.
The rediscovery of this long-lost music not only revives the sound of Scotland’s religious history but also highlights the value of scholarly research in uncovering cultural treasures. This piece of music, once forgotten, is now part of a broader understanding of Scotland’s medieval music-making traditions
