A magnificent choir book containing exclusively the works of Bernardinus Ribera, known as the E-Tc6 or Ribera Codex, was discovered in the library of Toledo Cathedral. Richly decorated with miniatures by Buitrago, this work was produced by the renowned Toledo copyist Martin Pérez. Originally, the volume consisted of 159 glossy parchment leaves with elaborately designed initials and was still complete in 1570. However, in the 18th century, several pages were removed and initials cut out, leaving the book in a mutilated form. Nevertheless, the codex remains the most important source for most of the mysterious composer's compositions.
The losses of two Masses in honor of the Virgin Mary and several motets are particularly painful. Six motets have been reconstructed, while works such as "Ascendens Christus" are irretrievably lost. The codex originally contained eight Magnificats. However, only three of these motets, along with their accompanying Gregorian antiphons, could be transcribed into score.
Five more motets by Ribera are preserved in another source. His origins in southeastern Spain and his musical journey from Valencia through Murcia and Ávila to Toledo are presented. Ribera's significance for the Spanish musical landscape is explored, highlighting parallels between his style and that of 16th-century Dutch composers. Despite the numerous losses and damage to the Ribera Codex, the surviving works impressively demonstrate his compositional mastery and artistic skill.