Old Manuscripts & Incunabula: This exceptional manuscript,
closed, is shaped like a heart; when open it becomes two hearts
joined, representing two lovers who send love messages to one
another in each one of the songs. When the word heart appears in
the texts, it is represented by a pictogram. Two full-page
illustrations appear in the codex. In the first, Cupid throws
arrows at a young girl while at his side Fortune spins his
wheel. In the other, two lovers approach one another lovingly.
Throughout the MS the pentagrams, music and love poems are
surrounded by borders made up of animals, birds, dogs, cats and
all kinds of flowers and plants highlighted in abundant and
delicate gold. The book gets its name from Jean de Montchenu, a
nobleman, apostolic prothonotary, Bishop of Agen (1477) and
later of Vivier (1478-1497) who commissioned the work. The music
repertoire consists of French and Italian songs written by
Dufay, Ockeghem, Busnois and their contemporaries.