The Cambridge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen

This volume explores the extraordinary life and works of Hildegard of Bingen, medieval writer, composer, visionary, and monastic founder.

Jennifer Bain (Edited by)

9781108471350, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 November 2021

320 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.66 kg

'… this book would be an excellent resource for graduate students and scholars who want to go beyond the classical studies of Hildegard at an affordable price. In particular, this compilation's rich bibliography and further reading, including internet resources, will be greatly helpful to students and researchers who want to try different methods to research Hildegard of Bingen or any female saints in medieval Europe.' Minji Lee, Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures

This specially commissioned collection of thirteen essays explores the life and works of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), monastic founder, leader of a community of nuns, composer, active correspondent, and writer of religious visions, theological treatises, sermons, and scientific and medical texts. Aimed at advanced university students and new Hildegard researchers, the essays provide a broad context for Hildegard's life and monastic setting, and offer comprehensive discussions on each of the main areas of her output. Engagingly written by experts in medieval history, theology, German literature, musicology, and the history of medicine, the essays are grounded in Hildegard's twelfth-century context, and investigate her output within its monastic and liturgical environments, her reputation during and after her life, and the materiality of the transmission of her works, considering aspects of manuscript layout, illumination, and scribal practices at her Rupertsberg monastery.

Introduction to the Cambridge Companion to Hildegard of Bingen Jennifer Bain
Part I. Life and Monastic Context: 1. The life of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) Michael Embach
2. Living and working in a twelfth-century women's monastic community Alison Beach
3. Literacy and learning in the lives of women religious of medieval Germany Lori Kruckenberg
Part II. Writings and Reputation: 4. Hildegard of Bingen's theology James Ginther
5. Reading Hildegard of Bingen's letters Christopher Fletcher
6. Hildegard of Bingen and the patriarchs, preaching greenness Peter Loewen
7. Hildegard of Bingen: Illness and healing Faith Wallis
8. The Pentachronon and Hildegard of Bingen's reputation as prophet Magda Hayton
9. The context and reception of Hildegard of Bingen's visions Wendy Love Anderson
Part III. Music, Manuscripts, Illuminations and Scribes: 10. Music, liturgy and intertextuality in Hildegard of Bingen's chant repertory Jennifer Bain
11. The Ordo virtutum and Benedictine monasticism Alison Altstatt
12. Picturing Hildegard of Bingen's sight: Illuminating her visions Nathaniel Campbell
13. Hildegard of Bingen and her scribes Margot Fassler.

Subject Areas: History of medicine [MBX], Gender studies, gender groups [JFSJ], Theology [HRLB], Medieval history [HBLC1], European history [HBJD], Medieval & Renaissance music [c 1000 to c 1600 AVGC2], Theory of music & musicology [AVA]