Joyful Noise – The Heavenly Music of Nuns

Joyful Noise – The Heavenly Music of Nuns: Hildegard of Bingen, Leonora d’Este, and Raffaella Aleotti.

A Talk given by Canon Anna Macham

Many of the composers we associate with the sacred music sung in our Cathedrals are male, yet recent discoveries show that women of faith have always composed, just as they have always sung and played, music from the earliest times.  In this talk, Canon Anna explores the lives and music of three nuns from different periods of musical history who were also composers.

From the soaring plainchant of Hildegard of Bingen to the Renaissance polyphony of Leonora d’Este, a princess and daughter of the infamous Lucrezia Borgia, to the early Baroque music of Raffaella Aleotti, the earliest known woman to publish a book of sacred music in 1593, each of these nuns made significant contributions to their societies despite living cloistered lives.  Their music helped people to pray in times of lament and celebration.

In her recent sabbatical leave, Canon Anna visited the places where each of these three women lived and ministered.  Her illustrated talk will explore the rich connection between their music and their localities, and how it still speaks to us today.

This talk has an entry charge to help support learning and reflection at the Cathedral. If you would like to attend but cost is an issue, please email precentor@salcath.co.uk.

This event is organised by Salisbury Cathedral.

Tickets are available online or through the Cathedral Box Office, open Monday–Friday 10am–4pm.

For visitors with access requirements, or if you require an essential companion to accompany you, please contact the Cathedral Box Office to book your tickets.

Email: Boxoffice@salcath.co.uk. Tel: 01722 656 555.