Among The Earliest Western Music Composers Was A Woman

Posted: 12/22/2018

Just watched the second part of the excellent BBC documentary Howard Goodall’s Story of Music (Source 1). He also told a story about Kassia.

“Kassia ... 805/810 - before 865) was an Eastern Roman abbess, poet, composer, and hymnographer. She is one of the first medieval composers whose scores are both extant and able to be interpreted by modern scholars and musicians. ” (Source 2; emphasis added)

This lady during a bride show turned down a marriage proposal by Byzantine emperor Theophilos. If one can believe the reports by early chroniclers of this event, then her rejection was based on contrasting Eve (sinful woman) and Maria (mother of Jesus).

“The most famous of her compositions is the eponymous Hymn of Kassia (also known as the Troparion of Kassiani), which is chanted each year at matins on Holy Wednesday (which in usual parish practice is sung Tuesday evening) at the end of the aposticha.” (Source 2)

Another wonderful example why religious freedom is so important.

Sources:

1. BBC Howard Goodall's Story of Music 2of6 The Age of Invention
2. Kassia