What is this rare flex symbol?
  • Geremia
    Posts: 264
    Usually, flexes are indicated by a dagger †, but this uses a different symbol:
    image
    This symbol indicates the flex in the first part of the verse of psalms and canticles, but the asterisk serves for the meter or pause in the middle of the verse [sung] in choir and in common.
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 250
    I think it's a variant used in the Dominican books, but I don't know what the symbol itself is called.
  • igneusigneus
    Posts: 366
    What book is that? The short lines suggest a two-column breviary, but Roman breviaries don't use the flex (before the advent of LOTH) and chant books aren't usually typeset in two columns.
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 250
    Examples from the Dominican Gradual. I suspect it's a stylized Tironian note.
    93613C43-BE6D-40D8-A3F9-CDB85733A9ED.jpeg
    1452 x 881 - 399K
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,074
    The Roman antiphonal has two generously-sized columns, although the page is larger than the breviary’s. You can see that the spacing is not as tight as French typography of the time (and even now…) wound ordinarily require; anyway, between the number of pages needed and the size, you can’t insert pointing (italics take up more space) but the LU format allows this.
  • igneusigneus
    Posts: 366
    The Roman antiphonal has two generously-sized columns


    But it uses two-column layout selectively, mainly (if not exclusively) for psalms and canticles. The example in the initial post seems to be from some sort of general rubrics.
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,410
    Here, down the left hand side, under Other Useful Links, there is a font file which includes it. Described as 'traditional Dominican flex mark'.
    http://dominican-liturgy.blogspot.com/search?q=flex
    I think that blog is by our forum contributor Fr Innocent O.P. https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/profile/1170/innocentop
    Thanked by 1Geremia
  • Geremia
    Posts: 264
    @FSSPmusic Yes, it is a Dominican breviary.
    Thanked by 1igneus
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,074
    It clearly says: Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., General Editor.
Add a Comment