Playing on the Harp Strings of the Soul Vision and Audition ... on the Harp Strings of the Soul Vision and Audition in Medingen Convent Henrike Lähnemann Inaugural Lecture School

Playing on the Harp Strings of the Soul

Vision and Audition in Medingen Convent

Henrike Lähnemann

Inaugural Lecture

School of Modern Languages11 May 2007

Henrike Lähnemann Inaugural Lecture

10 May 2007

Academic Vision (?)

RAEMOF

Hildegard of Bingen: Illustrations from mss. of the Liber divinorum operum / Scivias

3Henrike Lähnemann Inaugural Lecture

10 May 2007

Augustine on Vision

Three types of vision:

1. visio corporalis

(„with my own eyes“)

2. visio spiritualis („with the

eyes of the mind“)

3. visio intellectualis

(understanding of concepts „by the light of the intellect“)

Augustine: Book XII of his treatise On the Literal Meaning of Genesis

Augustine as bishop in LO, 35v


10 May 2007

Gregory as authority for audition

The Holy Ghost in the form of a dove whispers hymns to pope Gregory the Great who dictates them to the scribe.

Gregory the Great in M, f. 102r / Antiphonary of Hartker of Sankt-Gallen, Cod. Sang. 390, p. 13)

James 1:22

Estote autem factores verbi et non auditores tantum!

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only!


10 May 2007

The convents on Lüneburg Heath

‘Lüneburg Convents’: Lüne, Medingen, Ebstorf, Wienhausen

Medingen

Newcastle

Medingen

Lüne


10 May 2007

The Medieval Topography of Medingen

Matthäus Merian: Topographia Der Hertzogthumer Braunschweig und Lüneburg (1654)


10 May 2007

The Baroque Convent Buildings

Gothic building:former brewery

Medingen Nunnery, Baroque Convent, built 1781-1788 after the fire.


10 May 2007

The Founding Audition (1228)

vade & eme faba & pisa. ac imple duos saccos magnos.& quot faba & pisa in numero. tot electe persone erunt in novo monasterio.cujus tu eris inicium. & ego auctor perficiam.

Gha und kope erweten und bonen und vülle twe grote secke. und so vele der synt in dem talle. so mennich utherkoren persone schal in dat nye Closter dat ick wil ghebuwet werden laten. du scholt dis syn en anbeghin, und ick wil dat vullenbringhen.

Go and buy peas and beans and fill two big bags. And as many peas and beans as there are in this number, so many chosen persons shall be in the new convent which I wish to have built. You shall start this work and I will complete it.

Quomodo fiet istud. quia pauper sum & ydiotus.

Wo schal dat tho ghan, wente ick byn en arm ungeleret man.

How is this supposed to happen, since I am a poor uneducated man?

The Cistercian lay-brother John; Lyßmann (Copperplate Nr. 1) after the panels from 1499


10 May 2007

From Magdeburg via Wolmirstedt to Lüneburg

De leybroder ghinck tho synem Abbete, und geff eme tho vorstande, wot eme gesecht was. Also gaff eme syn abbet eynen waghen mit perden und dar lede he de twe secke mit den erweten und bonen uff, vnd vörde in dat stichte tho Meyeborch tho dem Closter Wolmirstede, vnd bath daruth veer personen upp dat dorch jüm mochte gode tho eren en nye Kloster ghybuwet werden.

The lay brother went to his abbot and gave him to understand what he had been told. So his abbot gave him a horse and cart, on which he laid the two bags with the peas and the beans, and brought it to the diocese of Magdeburg, to the convent Wolmirstadt, and asked them for four persons so that a new convent might be built by them to the glory of God.

1228: Foundation from Magdeburg; Copperplate Nr. 2-4 by Lyßmann


10 May 2007

The Patron Saint Maurice

... brought along their patron saint Saint Maurice, a wooden image.

Copperplate Nr. 3 by Lyßmann / St. Maurice (Medingen, ~1480, Ebony, Emaille and Silver)


10 May 2007

Vision: St. Mauritius appears (1380)

Give to my children what is due to them!

1380: Vision at Christmas (Lyßmann Nr. 13)


10 May 2007

„Patronus Mauritius“ in the Prayer-Books

Tunc corue ad pedes eius et dic:

Bene veneris O illustrissime et

preclarissime dux ac fidelissime

patrone sancte Mauriti

gloriosissime. Aduenisti O ex-

cellentissime princeps legionis

thebee signifer spendidissime

Aduenisti martir egre/gie...

Then bow down at his feet and say:

Welcome to you, most famous and loyal

patron, renowned Saint Maurice. You have

come, o most excellent leader of the

Theban legion & glorious standard-bearer.

You have come, excellent martyr...

Staatsbibliothek Hamburg, Cod. in scrin. 210 [= HB6], f. 12v/13r


10 May 2007

Audition: Angels sing (1336)

1336: Building of New-Medingen (Lyßmann Nr. 11)

Often there could be heard a song to the melody that is sung on All Saints Day: „Praise ye the Lord, our God“ – so that uneducated people were able to sing this song.


10 May 2007

The Conventual Reform (1499)

grapen

The reformed convent in 1479 (Lyßmann Nr. 14) / Tombstone of the Abbess Margareta Puffen


10 May 2007

The veil with the cross

dic in mentali jubilo quasi gloriando:

[...]

He heft sik my vertruwet

myt enen ghulden vingherlin.

vnd heft mi ciret myt deme duren blode sin.

vnd ik dreghe an dem houede myn

en rot siden crucelin.

dar an schal ik dechdich sin

dat he allene myn leueken si.

SUB Hamburg, Cod. in scrin. [= HB 8], f. 10r / Guildhall Library Ms. 1366 [= LO], f. 88r/v

say with jubilations of the mind as if rejoicing:

[...]

He has wed me

with a golden ring for my finger

and He has adorned me with his precious blood

and I wear on my head

a little red silk cross

which will remind me

that He alone is my beloved.


10 May 2007

Staatsbibliothek Preußischer Kulturbesitz Berlin, Ms. germ. oct. 48 [=BE2], f. 58v/59r


10 May 2007

‚Leisen‘ as a form of lay devotionWhile the ‚Victime paschali laudes‘ [sequence preceding the Gospel] is sung, the lay-people offer their sacrifice to the Easter cross and confess that they are redeemed by his precious blood. You also should offer him the penny of your devout prayer and of thanksgiving!

As answer to the sequence, the lay-people sing the ‚Leise‘ [hymn ending in ‚Kyrieleison‘]:

Christ is risenfrom all his martyrdom.Therefore we should be glad,God will be our comfort. Kyrieleison

Instructions for the High Mass at Easter-Sunday [BE2, f. 58v]

Indeed, we might well be glad since we have God‘s comfort; nothing could be better for us.


10 May 2007

Musical notation of the sung pieces

Reduced version of full choral notation (Adiastematic neumes ) for ‘Crist is vpstande’ and ‘Regina celi’

Landes- und Forschungsbibliothek Gotha, Ms. germ. oct. 48 [= GO], f. 58v


10 May 2007

Playing Kyrieleison on the harp-string

...darvmme leue minsche loue nv got in desser vesper stunde mit alle sinen creaturen van alle dinem herten vnd singhe deme koninghe der ere vppe der herpen diner sele dat vrolike Kyrieleyson. Salue dies dierum gloria diuinis splendens donisWes ghegrot alder wunnichlicher...

...therefore, dear Christian, praise God now at this vesper hour, together with all his creatures, with all your heart, and sing to the King of Glory on the harp of your soul the happy ‘Kyrieleison’.

Bistumsarchiv Trier: Ms. I 528 [T1], f. 95r (published by Axel Mante)


10 May 2007

Musical notation in the manuscripts

Landesbibliothek Hannover, HV1, p. 422-423

Leise: „Also heylich is de dach“


10 May 2007

Hymns for Easter

Oxford, Bodleian Libary, Ms. lat. lit. f 4, [= O1], f. 77v/78r: Latin form

Post horam matutinalem, dum exis de choro, canta in cordis iubilo: Illuxit dies quam fecit dominus [...] Also heylich is desse dach dat den nen man tho vullen lauen machDum chorum intraueris dic: Gloria tibi domine qui surrexisti a mortuis.

After the matutin, when you are leaving the church, sing in the jubilee of your heart: [...] & 3 ‚This day is so holy that nobody can praise it highly enough‘When you return to the church, say: ‚Glory to thee, o Lord‘


10 May 2007

Hymns for the Heart

Shine like this spendid day with your innermost prayer, go now in that house of your heart and say with the prophet David:

Return unto thy rest, O my soul... (Ps 116:7)

SUB Hamburg: Ms. in scrin. 151b [= HB 1], f. 155v: Low German form

Sing now with heart and lips: This day is so holy. The simple children who do not know anything else cry: Hail, hail, Easter Day. [...]


10 May 2007

David as exemplary singer

Ps 103,30: [left]

Emitte spiritum

[right] tuum et creabuntur et renova

Send forth thy spirit and they are created: and renew [the face of the earth].

De dulcissima die pasche. Wo wart gi en vorste so lovelich also de hilge prophete konig David…

About the very sweet day of EasterHave you ever seen a prince as laudable as the saintly prophet king David?

LO, f. 47r: David with the harp, singing from his book of Psalms


10 May 2007

King David as the harper for divine dancing

Koningh dauid de herpet den danz,he harpet den wol na vlite,dar vns wol na verlanghen mach:wat vroude is an hemmelrike!

Maria, maria honnichsem, Maria keyserinnehelp vns, eddele iuncvrouwe fin,dat we den danz vulbringhen!

Reges terre et omnes populi principes et omnes iudices terre, iuuenes ac virgines senes cum iunioribus celebremus hanc excellentissimam diem in iubilo canantes intimo cordis desiderio:

Also heylich is desse dach.

Wichmannsburger Antependium: David with the harp / HI1, f. 71v-72r.

King David plays the harp for the dance: he plays diligently; we may well wish to be there – what joy there is in the kingdom of heaven!Mary, Mary, sweet honey-comb, Mary, empress: help us, right noble virgin, to perform the dance.

All the kings of the earth &c celebrate this day and sing joyfully with the intimate desire of their heart: This day is so holy.


10 May 2007

Adornment of Body and Soul at Easter Day

Da metten so cyre dynen licham mit dynen besten klederen tho der ere godes vnd des hochgelaueden pasche dages vnd denck wo schone de is den du hute empfangen scholt vnd bidde ok van eme de cyringe dyner zele...

The risen Christ meets Mary Magdalene in the garden at Easter Morning [BE2, f. 59r]

For this event, adorn your body with your best clothes in honour of God and of the most praiseworthy Easter Day, and remember how beautiful He is whom you will receive today – and ask Him also for the adornment of your soul!


10 May 2007

Illuxit dies quam fecit dominus. [mortem deuastans et victor]

Also heylich is desse dach dat den nemen [vulle loven mach Wan de heilige Godes sunde de hemels dore ufgedon Kyrieleis]

Angels, Nuns and Lay-people greet the Easter morning [HI 1, f. 52r]

Hymns for Easter Morning


10 May 2007

Farewell, Easter day

Nuns and Lay-People taking leave of the Easter-Day [HI1, f. 126v]

Vale, vale, valeas et post annum letanter redeasO sote dach woldestu bi vns bliuen

Farewell, farewell, fare thee well and after a year’s time a happy return!O sweet day, could you just stay with us!


10 May 2007

Beyond the Harp-Strings of the Soul: Sacred Voices (& Libations)

... and if the harp strings of the soul are ringing with melodies,

Then search in the stillest valley for the blossom-richest grove

and pour from the golden bowl the glad libation of wine!

[...] Und tönt von MelodienDer Seele Saitenspiel,

So such im stillsten TaleDen blütenreichsten Hain,Und gieß aus goldner SchaleDen frohen Opferwein!

(Friedrich Hölderlin: Der Gott der Jugend)

GT2, f. 5r: Elementary book from Medingen with basic texts in German

Documents

Playing on the Harp Strings of the Soul Vision and Audition ... on the Harp Strings of the Soul Vision and Audition in Medingen Convent Henrike Lähnemann Inaugural Lecture School