Liturgy and Shorter Genres

The chapter opens with an overview of monastic liturgy in Hildegard’s time, providing an explanation of the Temporale and Sanctorale, Proper and Ordinary texts, the eight daily Offices, and composed chant versus liturgical recitative. Hildegard’s works are then placed in the context of the liturgical year, with anomalies indicated. A survey of the genres she used is followed by discussion of her shorter works: the Kyrie, her forty-three antiphons (with special attention to O tu illustrata), and the eighteen responsories. The norms for each genre are described, including formal expectations, and the ways in which Hildegard’s compositions meet or differ from these norms is indicated.