Hildegard of Bingen and Musical Reception
The Modern Revival of a Medieval Composer

Jennifer Bain contextualizes the revival of Hildegard's music, engaging with intersections amongst local devotion and political, religious, and intellectual activity.

Jennifer Bain (Author)

9781107433878, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 December 2017

249 pages, 18 b/w illus. 7 tables 8 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.3 cm, 0.405 kg

'This volume is especially relevant for medievalists and musicologists and would make an excellent inclusion in academic libraries. In addition to being an admirable resource for Hildegard scholars, this book is also helpful for those concerned with the history of church music, chant revival in the nineteenth century, and the work of Ludwig Schneider, a worthy scholar and a selfless man.' John MacInnis, Notes

Since her death in 1179, Hildegard of Bingen has commanded attention in every century. In this book Jennifer Bain traces the historical reception of Hildegard, focusing particularly on the moment in the modern era when she began to be considered as a composer. Bain examines how the activities of clergy in nineteenth-century Eibingen resulted in increased veneration of Hildegard, an authentication of her relics, and a rediscovery of her music. The book goes on to situate the emergence of Hildegard's music both within the French chant restoration movement driven by Solesmes and the German chant revival supported by Cecilianism, the German movement to reform Church music more generally. Engaging with the complex political and religious environment in German speaking areas, Bain places the more recent Anglophone revival of Hildegard's music in a broader historical perspective and reveals the important intersections amongst local devotion, popular culture, and intellectual activities.

Introduction: O virga ac diadema: historiography of a song
1. Forgotten? Hildegard's reception from 1179 to 1850
2. Hildegard's increased veneration and emergence as a composer
3. The German revival of chant
4. Hildegard and the Kulturkampf
5. Hildegard, tourism, and the politics of chant
Conclusion: new century, new abbey, new Hildegard.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Gender studies: women [JFSJ1], History of religion [HRAX], Social & cultural history [HBTB], European history [HBJD], Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], Medieval & Renaissance music [c 1000 to c 1600 AVGC2], Early music [up to c 1000 CE AVGC1], Theory of music & musicology [AVA], Music [AV]