Muzyka jako element klasztornych uroczystości w świetle XVIII-wiecznych archiwaliów benedyktynek kongregacji chełmińskiej
Music as the element of monastic celebrations in the light of 18th century archives of Benedictine nuns congregation in Chełmno

Summary/Abstract: The article presents various forms of making music by 18th century Benedictines, not only within the frames of celebrated liturgy. The author uses sources created by Benedictines of Chełmno, including the directories, chronicles, registries of expenditures, musical manuscrpits. They show certain gradation of their music practice, dependent on the degree of its ”festivity”. The simplest form was singing in unison without accompaniment (chorale and songs), then polyphonic singing, and finally singing with an organ accompaniment. For the most important celebrations were prepared performances of vocal and instrumental, which required from the performers professional preparation. This type of musical setting for the liturgy was often entrusted to local bands, but some convents in 18th century were able to create their own vocal and instrumental groups consisting of nuns. They have acted for instance in Jarosław, Nieśwież, Sandomierz, and Lviv. Most of the information on the musical practice is provided by the directories, namely Porządki chorowe (Choir schedules) (part of liturgical and musical manuscript of Sandomierz – L 1651) and D4 manuscript of Lviv, containing Porządek godzin y zabaw zakonnych przez cały dzień w regule opisanych (The time schedule of monastic games described in the regulation for the whole day) and two editions of Porządki chorowe. They allow to compare the way of using music in two monasteries during the various feasts and liturgical occasions such as Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum, or The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In turn, from the chronicle of the monastery of Sandomierz one can find out at what other religious occasions the nuns were trying to add splendor to the liturgy, and how they used music to ensure the goodwill of the people important for the monastery.

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