Bulletin 2007 [antikvár]

MATTHIAS-GRADUALE The album introducing the initials of the most ornate Corvina, accompanied by analyses and a study, was published jointly by Kossuth Publishing House and the National Széchényi Library in 2007. The talk given at the book launch by the Benedictine monk and Arch abbot of Pannonhalma, Asztrik Várszegi on 17*^ October 2007 is reproduced below. Ladies and Gentlemen, The recently held magnificent Sigismund exhibition and the upcoming Renaissance Year indicate how at the beginning of our European Union membership we are trying to draw a parallel with historical periods when we were unquestionably part of Europe, something we can only hope for today. The current edition of the Gradúale related to King Matthias may be seen as the overture to the upcoming Renaissance Year. It is always a great pleasure and joy to pick up, leaf through and read a truly beautiful and valuable book. Let me thank for this spiritual and intellectual joy to all those who have worked so hard on publishing the Matthias-Graduale. May I express my special thanks to István Monok, Mrs. Soltész, Ferenc Földesi, József Hapák, Ilona Badics, to Father Lukács Áment and the two scholas, as well as to Jolanta Szuba and, last but not least, to CEO András Sándor Kocsis, the publisher. Dear Guests, Matthias-Graduale. On first reading, the title itself puts us into a difficult position. In our secularized world, who would understand at all the meaning of the word 'gradúale', and especially its background in the history of the liturgy? In the Roman Catholic Mass, the gradúale is the liturgical chant or psalm sung from the steps of the dais after the readings. Later, Gregorian neumes and codices containing the texts of psalms were briefly referred to as graduales. This codex belonged to the chapel frequented by King Matthias and Queen Beatrix. Not only is the cover page of this magnificent liturgical book decorated the way typical of other Corvinas as well, but in addition to the exquisite miniature on the cover page, there are 46 large and many other smaller initials in the volume. Each page of the codex believed to originate from the 1480s is a carefully composed artistic unit. Its uplifting Gregorian tunes were once admired by the royal couple, and today over five hundred years later, we hear them too - I hope in as wonderful rendering as they did: presented by Father Lukács Ament and the two scholas, namely the Schola of the Pannonhalma Abbey and the Saint Martin Chamber Choir. As indicated by the introductory study to the Graduale and the ample literature about it, many more things could be said, but perhaps going into detail is not my duty at the moment. About its birth, type and images, substantial information is provided in the excellent introductory study and the accompanying analyses. When I first heard about the plan of the Matthias-Graduale, I asked myself: Why should they publish a book like this today? There must be a number of rational reasons, which the publisher must have weighed up. I believe that this codex edition offers an answer to a desire which is difficult for us to describe in words. I believe that through its pictures mirroring the age and through the message conveyed by the psalms, this codex tells of something that has disappeared from our lives. In such editions, it is as if we were searching for the "paradise lost". The Matthias-Graduale edition is opening a window to the age when our Judeo-Christian Biblical roots, or in other words, our European and Hungarian identity, as well as our Christian faith embedded in it were moving in the same direction. This is an opening towards our roots, as the codex contains psalms and biblical texts. In the Latin text of the Vulgate, which was still commonly understood by the educated Europe of the time, using the words of our poeta doc-tus Babits "Jerome united Jewish and Greek civilization" (He translated the Bible into Latin.) His Vulgate exerted a decisive influence on all of the world literature. "It was through this gate that the soul of prophets and Jobs poured into the western soul." We are still searching for the source and the language that takes us deeper, takes us to our roots. And the edition of such a book talks about this too. A prayer book, this codex was the royal chapel's gem, which served the honour and praise of the Lord rather than aesthetic purposes. Historians never discuss our c O