Why is the figure of Notker, one of the Swiss abbey’s monks, so relevant in the history of medieval sacred music?
Gall in the development of medieval chant. We all know about the importance of the Abbey of St. Notker the Stammerer: a music composer or simply a lyricist? Notker the Stammerer was highly fascinated by the world of sounds and cultivated the art of composition in conjunction with his monastic duties.Īs a composer, he gave a valuable contribution to the development of the sequence, a particular genre of Catholic chant. Once he became part of the monastery, Notker acted as a librarian, poet and music composer.īut why was Notker addressed with the epithet “ the Stammerer”?Īccording to Ekkehard, the Benedictine monk had a severe difficulty in articulating words.ĭespite this form of stuttering, he was highly appreciated by the Emperor Charles the Fat to the point that became his occasional counselor. The life of Notker the Stammerer (latin: Balbulus) revolved around the Swiss monastery of Saint Gall where he received a refined education before being ordained as a monk. To answer these questions we’de better start with a quick overview of Notker’s biography.
Was he a music composer or just a talented lyricist? 940 – 912) in the music of Medieval Church? What is the role played by the Benedictine monk Notker the Stammerer (c.