Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
Stams Abbey: Where the angels make music
Innsbruck musicologist Dr Hildegard Herrmann-Schneider has published the results of years of archival research into church music in the baroque Cistercian monastery of Stams in Tyrol. The evidence dates back to the 14th century and continues into contemporary history.
Music is not considered in isolation, but is placed in the context of culture as a whole: Music in the visual arts, musical instruments, liturgical books, choral singing, organ music, choral literature, secular music, modern sound recordings and much more. The subject could hardly have been dealt with more comprehensively and competently.
The book makes a further contribution to the fact that it is not an empty phrase to describe the monasteries of the Benedictine tradition as the outstanding cultural centres of Europe. Of course, culture and music also require a healthy economy, as they cost money and are therefore luxury goods. So, if a monastery has achieved the kind of achievements described in this book, then it also had outstanding economists in its convent!
- Details
- Written by: Stefan Heid
- Category: Recommended reading