IMC 2011: Sessions

Sources from the 12th and 13th centuries contain evidence for many male-female pairs who worked together to found or reform new monastic institutions. One highly successful pair of collaborators consisted of Hildegard of Bingen and her secretary, the Benedictine monk Volmar. It is likely that Volmar of St Disibod was a chronicler and cantor of that place in the early 12th century, and that when he and Hildegard left to found the Rupertsberg they already had a highly formed sense of how to create institutional history. This sense was further developed by Hildegard in her liturgical writings and compositions. This study looks at the activities that may be directly associated with Volmar and then analyzes the evidence of history-making that can be found in Hildegard's sequences and hymns. The lecture argues that she was using these pieces in particular to help lay a historical foundation for the Rupertsberg, undoubtedly with Volmar's aid and with an understanding of history that is manifest in earlier works associated with her secretary and his office.

Please note that access to this event will be on a first-come, first-served basis and there will be not tickets for the event. Please ensure that you arrive as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The room will open 15 minutes before the beginning of the lecture.

The Medieval Academy is very pleased to sponsor the Annual Medieval Academy Lecture at the International Medieval Congress. The goal is to contribute a major scholarly lecture to the offerings of the Congress while serving better the Academy's many members who reside outside North America. Information regarding the Medieval Academy and the benefits of membership, which is open to all medievalists worldwide, is available at .