The Crossing of Civilizations Museum and Juma Al Majid Center display a unique Andalusian manuscript from the fourteenth century

Dubai, April 22 / WAM / The Crossing of Civilizations Museum, in cooperation with the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, during a cultural event held in the Shindagha area in Dubai yesterday, revealed the details and story of a rare Andalusian manuscript that is considered one of the most prominent and rare complete examples in the world, which is the “Mudéjar Antiphonary”, which dates back to the fourteenth century AD.

This came during an event entitled “Living evidence of the convergence between faith, artistic beauty, and the dialogue of civilizations across the ages,” in the presence of His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar for South Arabia, representative of His Holiness the Pope, and Dr. Mohamed Kamel Gad, Director General of the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, along with a number of consuls and officials, including Robert Reigns, Consul General of the United States of America in Dubai, and Sibylle Pfaff, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, The French Consul, Ahmed Obaid Al Mansouri, founder of the Crossing of Civilizations Museum, directors of government institutions in the country, businessmen, and university students.

The participants stressed that embracing this manuscript in the UAE reflects its status as a meeting place of civilizations and a global model of coexistence and openness.

This manuscript, known as the “Mudejar Antiphonal,” is considered one of the most prominent complete examples of the art of antiphonal chant used in mass ceremonies in Europe during the Middle Ages. It reflects a unique convergence between Western Christian art, in terms of liturgical texts and musical structure, and Islamic art, in terms of geometric decoration and visual approach, within the framework of what is known as the Mudejar tradition, which arose in Andalusia as a result of civilizational interaction between cultures.

This intersection shows that responsive chants were not just a religious practice, but rather a space that embraced a common artistic expression, where Western musical traditions met the Islamic aesthetic sense in a single work that reflects the spirit of the times.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli said that the presence of this manuscript in the UAE is in harmony with its role as a space that brings together peoples and cultures, noting that it embodies a cultural convergence that reflects the ability of societies to interact and coexist, and carries within it common cultural and humanitarian dimensions.

He added that such initiatives enhance dialogue between cultures, consolidate the values ​​of peace and understanding, and contribute to building a future based on mutual respect and openness.

Ahmed Obaid Al Mansouri stressed that this manuscript does not represent just a historical piece, but rather a living witness to a documented historical reality, where civilizations interacted and contributed to the production of knowledge and the progress of societies, indicating that civilizations do not grow in isolation, but rather through convergence and interaction.

He explained that the Crossing of Civilizations Museum’s embrace of this work comes in line with the UAE’s approach to consolidating the values ​​of coexistence and openness, and enhancing the role of culture as a bridge of communication between peoples.

Dr. Mohamed Kamel Gad, Director General of the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai, confirmed that this event comes in line with the center’s mission, which is based on saving any manuscript or book that is at risk of damage in the world, regardless of its language, subject matter, or author, based on the belief that the book represents a cultural heritage for all of humanity.

He pointed out that the Center works to support efforts to preserve manuscripts globally, by providing restoration equipment and techniques to a number of cultural institutions, which contributes to preserving this human heritage for future generations.

It is noteworthy that today only a limited number of this type of complete manuscripts remain in the world, and the majority of them are located in specialized libraries and archives in Europe, which makes its presence in the UAE a qualitative addition to the global cultural scene.

The manuscript represents a large book that was used in collective hymns, and its pages made of parchment, the patterns of its musical notations, and the method of its binding reveal its importance in daily life at that time, while its geometric decorations and artistic influences reflect the features of cultural exchange between societies, in a historical context that witnessed the transfer of knowledge and crafts between civilizations and contributed to the development of arts and sciences.

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