Musical Cryptography and the Early History of the ‘León Antiphoner’

A groundbreaking analysis of the León Antiphoner, a 10th-century manuscript containing Old Hispanic chant, reveals that it was commissioned by San Froilán, Bishop of León, between 900 and 905. The study deciphers cryptographic inscriptions on the manuscript, providing definitive evidence for its dating and patronage, which had previously been debated. The research suggests that the manuscript was likely produced in the scriptorium of the monastery of SS Cosmas and Damian in Abellar, offering new insights into the early history of this significant cultural artifact.

De Luca, E. (2017). MUSICAL CRYPTOGRAPHY AND THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE ‘LEÓN ANTIPHONER’. Early Music History, 36, 105–158. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0261127917000018