Byzantine hymns of the first female composer of the Occident

Kassia (c. 810-843/867)

VocaMe is the new “all star” ensemble consisting of some of Germany’s top singers of Early Music

(Gerlinde Sämann, Sigrid Hausen, Sabine Lutzenberger et al.) under the direction of renowned

Early Music artist Michael Popp. They make their debut with a recording devoted to Kassia, a 9th

century female composer from the Byzantine era. Together with Diane Touliatos, the sole scholar

on Kassia, VocaMe presents the world premiere of all currently transcribed works by Kassia to

date.

Kassia is credited as being the first female composer and the most famous medieval woman

composer of Eastern chant. Kassia preceded Hildegard von Bingen by about three centuries, who

up until now was believed to be the first female composer of liturgical music, and her musical ideas

were far ahead of her time. She must have been a pretty, well educated and self-assured woman,

and she was one of the bridal candidates for the Emperor. Later she founded a monastery and was

its first abbess. There here compositions were preserved. Her sacred chants have their place in

the Bycantine liturgy until today.