Dendermonde Codex Explained

The Dendermonde Codex or sometimes called Villarenser Kodex or codex 9 of Dendermonde Abbey,^[1] is a valuable manuscript containing the Latin: Symphonia harmoniae caelestium revelationum of Hildegard of Bingen.^[2]

History

This valuable manuscript is owned by Dendermonde Abbey.^[3] Historians believe it was first sent to the Belgian Villers Abbey, hence the name Villarensis. It then moved to Gembloux Abbeyand finally it arrived in the famous Affligem Abbey, where the monks were chased out in 1796. In 1837, the Affligem community re-established conventual life in Dendermonde. When a colony of monks from Dendermonde returned to the original site of Affligem Abbey, the manuscript remained in Dendermonde. The Bingen manuscript is considered the most valuable of the library, and is world famous.

In August 2017, the abbey entrusted the manuscript to the library of the Faculty of Theology at the Catholic University of Leuven for conservation.^[4]

The Manuscript

The collection of songs inside the codex was named by Hildegard Symphonia Harmoniae Caelestium Revelationum.^[5]

The current manuscript is not complete as several folios are missing. However, it still contains 183 folios, made of parchment, containing 60 psalmes and cantica in honour of Father and Son.^[6] It is dated ca. 1176 A.D. and is considered one of the major works by Hildegard von Bingen.

Compositions

• 1. frondens Virga
• 2. O splendissima gemma
• 3. Ave Maria, o auctrix vite
• 4. O eterne Deus
• 5. O clarissima mater
• 6. O gloriosissimi lux
• 7. Cum processit factura digiti Die
• 8. O tu suavissima virga

See also

• Wiesbaden Codex

External links

Digital reproduction of the manuscript

Notes and References

1. Hildegard of Bingen: Woman of Vision /Carol Reed-Jones
2. Web site: Dendermonde Codex in doctoraatsthesis (Dendermonde) - Het Nieuwsblad. nieuwsblad.be. 2017-07-14.
3. Web site: Hildegard von Bingen in Dendermonde Stretto – Magazine voor kunst, geschiedenis en muziek. stretto.be. 2017-07-14.
4. Web site: Lieve Watteeuw. 29 October 2017. The Abbey of Saint Pieter and Paul of Dendermonde is giving the Symphonia Codex by Hildegard von Bingen (12th century) in repository to the Maurits Sabbe Library, KU Leuven. theo.kuleuven.be. Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven.
5. Web site: Hildegard of Bingen, Symphonia harmoniae caelestium revelationum. Dendermonde, St.-Pieters & Paulusabdij, Ms. Cod. 9 International Centre for the Study of Music in the Low Countries. alamirefoundation.org. 2017-07-14. 2016-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160823103347/http://alamirefoundation.org/en/publications/hildegard-bingen-symphonia-harmoniae-caelestium-revelationum-dendermonde-st-pieters-pau. dead.
6. Web site: Hildegard von Bingen. hetstillepand.be. 2017-07-14. 2019-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20190512121659/https://www.hetstillepand.be/von_bingen.html. dead.