Mirrors of heaven or worldly theaters? : Venetian nunneries and their music

Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters? Venetian Nunneries and Their Music is the first in-depth study of the dynamic role of musical rituals at Venetian convents in the Early Modern era, examining the nuns as patrons and performers, of both simple plainchant and complex sacred polyphony. The book also considers organs, bells, and musical and theatrical entertainment by and for the nuns. Mirrors Of Heaven Or Worldly Theaters? Venetian Nunneries And Their Music Explores The Dynamic Role Of Music Performance And Patronage In The Convents Of Venice And Its Lagoon From The Sixteenth Century To The Fall Of Venice Around 1800. Examining Sacred Music Performed By The Nuns Themselves And By Professional Musicians They Employed, Author Jonathan E. Glixon Considers The Nuns As Collective Patrons, Of Both Musical Performances By Professionals In Their External Churches-primarily For The Annual Feast Of The Patron Saint, A Notable Attraction For Both Venetians And Foreign Visitors-and Of Musical Instruments, Namely Organs And Bells. The Book Explores The Rituals And Accompanying Music For The Transitions In A Nun's Life, Most Importantly The Ceremonies Through Which She Moved From The Outside World To The Cloister, As Well As Liturgical Music Within The Cloister, Performed By The Nuns Themselves, From Chant To Simple Polyphony, And The Rare Occasions Where More Elaborate Music Can Be Documented. Also Considered Are The Teaching Of Music To Both Nuns And Girls Resident In Convents As Boarding Students, And Entertainment-musical And Theatrical-by And For The Nuns. Mirrors Of Heaven, The First Large-scale Study Of Its Kind, Contains Richly Detailed Appendices Featuring A Calendar Of Musical Events At Venetian Nunneries, Details On Nunnery Organs, Lists Of Teachers, And Inventories Of Musical And Ceremonial Books, Both Manuscript And Printed. A Companion Website Supplements The Book's Musical Examples With Editions Of Complete Musical Works, Which Are Brought To Life With Accompanying Audio Files.--publisher's Description. The Nuns Of Venice And Its Lagoon -- Public Liturgy: Professional Male Musicians In The Exterior Church -- Necessary Ornaments: Organs And Bells -- Transitions: Clothing Ceremonies, Professions, Consecrations, And Funerals -- Daily Offices And More: The Nuns In The Interior Church -- The Porous Grate: Teaching Music In Church And Parlor -- A Virtuous Recreation? Musical And Theatrical Entertainments For And By The Nuns – Appendix 1. Documents -- Appendix 2. Brief Histories Of The Nunneries Of Venice And Its Lagoon -- Appendix 3. A Calendar Of Religious Observances At Venetian Nunneries -- Appendix 4. Religious Functions Of Confraternities In Nunnery Churches -- Appendix 5. Organs In Venetian Nunnery Churches -- Appendix 6. References To Music At Monacations In Palade Veneta And The Gradenigo Diaries -- Appendix 7. Inventory Of Versetti For Venetian Nuns -- Appendix 8. Publications In Honor Of Nuns (excluding Monacations) -- Appendix 9. Liturgical Books, Rules, And Ordini For Venetian Nunneries -- Appendix 10. Mass Ordinaries In The San Lorenzo 1542 Processional -- Appendix 11. Teachers Of Nuns And Educande. Jonathan E. Glixon. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters? Copyright Contents List of Illustrations List of Music Examples Notes on Transcriptions, Terminology, and the Venetian Monetary System Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. The Nuns of Venice and the Lagoon 2. Public Liturgy: Professional Male Musicians in the Exterior Church 3. Necessary Ornaments: Organs and Bells 4. Transitions: Clothing Ceremonies, Professions, Consecrations, and 5. Daily Offices and More: The Nuns in the Interior Church 6. The Porous Grate: Teaching Music in Church and Parlor 7. A Virtuous Recreation? Musical and Theatrical Entertainments for8. Conclusions and Epilogue Appendices Appendix 1. Documents Appendix 2. Brief Histories of the Nunneries of Venice and its Lagoon Appendix 3. A Calendar of Religious Observances at Venetian Nunneries Appendix 4. Religious Functions of Confraternities in Nunnery Churches Appendix 5. Organs in Venetian Nunnery Churches Appendix 6. References to Music at Monacations in Pallade Veneta and the Appendix 7. Inventory of Versetti for Venetian Nuns Appendix 8. Publications in Honor of Nuns (excluding monacations) Appendix 9. Liturgical Books, Rules, and Ordini for Venetian Nunneries Appendix 10. Mass Ordinaries in the San Lorenzo 1542 Processional Appendix 11. Teachers of Nuns and Educande Bibliography Index