Jesse Tree with fifteen kings playing harp, vielle, rebec, string drum, triangle, cymbals, organ, lute, gittern, shawm, bagpipe, bombard and three recorders

  • Arbre de Jessé (Paris, BnF, Français 7 f.155)

Summary

: Jesse Tree with fifteen kings playing harp, vielle, rebec, string drum, triangle, cymbals, organ, lute, gittern, shawm, bagpipe, bombard and three recorders

: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Île-de-France, France
Location type : Library

: Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

: 15

: 1401 -1500

: Illumination

: Paper / Parchment

: Biblissima

: Arbre de Jessé (Paris, BnF, Français 7 f.155)

: Illumination illustrating the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (I)


:
http://beta.biblissima.fr//ark:/43093/ifdatadd4c73b3fcaeaec90752ce4475f4fc078b1f52f5


: Florentin Morel / Maria Cini di Portocannone

Performer(s)
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : harp - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 322.21 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Neck: continuous
    Number of strings: 8
    Arrangement of strings: Parallel
    Position of pegs: top
    End of pegs: round button-shaped
    Playing position: Sit
    Playing method: Plucked
    Hand position: near tailpiece
    Plectrum: no
    Column of harp: curved
    Console shape: swan-necked
    Swan necked: yes
    Soundboard shape: straight
    Placement of pegs: top
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : vielle - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 321.322-71 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Neck: continuous
    Arrangement of strings: Parallel
    Number of rosettes soundholes: 4
    Shape of rosettes soundholes: crescent-shaped
    Position of the rosettes soundholes: facing toward each other <>
    Position of pegs: top
    End of pegs: with fins
    Playing position: Seated
    Playing method: Bowed
    Fingers on fingerboard: yes
    Placement on strings: far from bridge
    Part of bow: top third of bow
    Bow length: long
    Shape of bow: curved
    Bow hair: with
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : rebec - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 321.322-71 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Neck: continuous
    Number of rosettes soundholes: 1
    Shape of rosettes soundholes: single opening
    Position of the rosettes soundholes: at center
    Position of pegs: top
    End of pegs: with fins
    Decoration: Volute
    Playing position: Seated
    Playing method: Bowed
    Fingers on fingerboard: yes
    Placement on strings: close to bridge
    Part of bow: top third of bow
    Bow length: short
    Shape of bow: curved
    Bow hair: with
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : string drum - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 314.122 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Number of strings: 4
    Arrangement of strings: Parallel
    Number of rosettes soundholes: 2
    Shape of rosettes soundholes: single opening
    Position of the rosettes soundholes: at center
    Position of pegs: other
    Playing position: Seated
    Playing method: Struck
    Description of accessories: Wooden handle/stick in one hand for string percussion
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : triangle - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 111.211 )
    Type of bell: handbell(s)
    Triangle: closed triangle with ring
    Accessory: strap(s)
    Playing position: Hand-held
    Playing method: Percussion
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : cymbal - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 111.142 )
    Type of bell: handbell(s)
    Number of bells: 1
    Accessory: handle(s)
    Playing position: Hand-held
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : shawm - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 422.1 )
    Bore: conical
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: flared
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers wrapped tightly around instrument
    Instrument strap: Hand-held
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : bagpipe - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 422.112-6 )
    Bore: cylindrical
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: flared
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers pressed down on holes
    Instrument strap: Body of the instrument held under the musician's arm
    Type of bagpipe: with single blowpipe
    Bag: bladder
    Ornament: cylindrical band
    Blowpipe: yes
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Comment: This instrument is called Bombarde

    Instrument information
    Instrument : shawm - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 422.1 )
    Bore: conical
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: flared
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers pressed down on holes
    Instrument strap: Hand-held
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : lute - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 321.321 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Neck: continuous
    Comments: Volute
    Playing position: Seated
    Playing method: Plucked
    Hand position: near neck
    Plectrum: yes
    Sound box shape: pear-shaped
    Pegbox position: angled
    Pegbox shape: sickle
    Neck length: short
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : lute - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 321.321 )
    Facture: composed of multiple pieces
    Neck: continuous
    Number of strings: 5
    Arrangement of strings: Parallel
    Number of rosettes soundholes: 1
    Shape of rosettes soundholes: single opening
    Position of the rosettes soundholes: at center
    Position of pegs: side
    End of pegs: with fins
    Playing position: Seated
    Playing method: Plucked
    Hand position: near neck
    Plectrum: yes
    Sound box shape: other
    Pegbox position: angled
    Pegbox shape: cross
    Neck length: short
    Frets: indeterminate
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : organ - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 412.1-8 )
    Bore: cylindrical
    Body: straight
    Type of organ: portative
    Bellows: invisible
    Number of pipes: 14
    Number of rows of pipes: 2
    Playing mechanism: keyboard
    Keyboard type: indeterminate
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : recorder - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 421.221.12 )
    Bore: cylindrical
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: cylindrical termination
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers wrapped tightly around instrument
    Instrument strap: Hand-held
    Type of recorder: simple
    Holes: invisible
    Harmonic flute: no
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : recorder - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 421.221.12 )
    Bore: indeterminate
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: conical
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers wrapped tightly around instrument
    Instrument strap: Hand-held
    Type of recorder: simple
    Harmonic flute: no
  • Performer information
    Type: musician

    Genre: male

    Posture: Seated

    Character quality or function: King

    Instrument information
    Instrument : recorder - (Hornbostel-Sachs system: 421.221.12 )
    Bore: cylindrical
    Body: straight
    Bell: long
    Shape of bell: cylindrical termination
    Finger holes: invisible
    Thumb hole: invisible
    Playing method: fingers pressed down on holes
    Type of recorder: simple
    Holes: invisible
    Harmonic flute: no




Number of performers: 15

Organization of visual space involving performance: The performators occupy the entire upper plane, almost the entire illumination. They are distributed symmetrically on either side of the Virgin and Child (in the centre).

Interactions between performers: Different interactions: 1) reciprocity of glances (hurdy-gurdy and rebec; flutes between them; bagpipes and chalemie). 2) glances towards Jesse lying down (characters closest to the latter, in the lower part: harp, string drum, triangle and bell). 3) looks in the same direction (organ and lute to the left, lute and flute to the right). Horizontality of the stops of glances.

Relative position of the performer(s) and the written support in the image: The overhanging illumination has an educational significance in that it illustrates the written medium. Gospel according to St. Matthew: "Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, Jacob begat Judah and his brothers... " (Mt 1:2)

Music coordination markers: All the performators are in action. Reciprocity of glances.

Comment: The instruments make it possible to identify the kings whose attributes they are (e.g. King David, son of Jesse, on the harp). Physical resemblances.

Function of the sound: glorification, prophecy

Reference to music theory and musical perfection: harmony, measure

Instrumental classification: hauts and bas instruments

Source of musical inspiration: Prophet

Context of the sound: aristocratic music, ceremonial music

Contextual relation: All these Kings are linked by blood, and their sonorous relationship echoes it.

Comment: Opposition between the superior sound universe, and the serenity of the eternal sleep in which Jesse is plunged.

Formal: Symmetry of the tree and distribution of the Kings according to the chronology of Jesse's descendants.

Chromatic: Predominance of the mouth (cochineal carmine), symbolizing triumph and royal power. Presence of azure (lapis and azurite), symbol of the celestial universe and the protection of the sky.

Mathematical: Grouping of the Kings in threes, on either side of the Virgin and Child, as an analogy to the Holy Trinity. The 15 perforators echo the Kabbalistic symbolism of the 15th letter, SAMEKH: Shield of Light (i.e. divine protection).

Comment: Harmonious colour distribution of royal coats.