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Codex Calixtinus

Music for Saint James
Since the legendary rediscovery of the relics of Saint James in the 9th century Santiago de Compostela in Northwestern Spain became one of the most important places of pilgrimage of Medieval Europe beside Jerusalem and Rome.

Compostela attracted thousands of pilgrims throughout Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries and gave birth to a widely disseminated system of ways and paths of pilgrimage.

In the 12th century a codex was compiled and attributed to Pope Calixtus II as its legendary author. The manuscript includes sermons, reports of miracles, a guide for pilgrimage and the liturgical texts and the chant for the celebration of the feast of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela.

Beside the monophonic chant the polyphonic items are of great importance as they represent one of the earliest steps towards polyphony in Western music.

The solemn celebration of the feast of Saint James permitted an extraordinary rich musical embellishment of the liturgy introducing polyphonic versions of the normally monophonic chant as well as of tropes.

This program presents a representative selection of monophonic and polyphonic items for the Office and the Mass. 		Codex Calixtinus


Codex Calixtinus | "Congaudeant Catholici"



Further information:
  • Program information:

    • 6 singers, a capella; for small to medium-sized resonant churches.

  • Performances:

    • 17. 06. 2004, 20:30h
      Basilika Wiblingen

    • 15. 08. 2003, 19h
      Stiftskirche Stuttgart

    • 20. 05. 2003, 19h
      St. Peter/Bad Waldsee

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