The impact of religious reformations during the Early Modern Period on the liturgical arts will be explored in a colloquium series being offered this fall by the Institute of Sacred Music (ISM).
Titled "Religious Reformations: Liturgy, Theology and the Arts in the Early Modern Period," the series was organized by ISM's interdisciplinary faculty as part of its annual colloquium series demonstrating the connections forged in worship between music, liturgy, preaching and the arts, and investigating issues relating to historical and theological questions and present practice.
The lectures begin each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. with sherry and further discussion. The lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be held in ISM's Great Hall, 409 Prospect St. Students who attend the entire series and register will receive course credit.
A list of the general topics and individual talks in the series follow:
General Overview: Sept. 16 -- "The Big Picture in Miniature: Introduction to the Age of Reform," David Connell, Yale.
German Reformation: Sept. 23 -- "'Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me': Baptism, The Body of Christ, and the Community," Susan Karant-Nunn, Portland State University; Sept. 30 -- "Organist and Cantor in Post-Reformation Lübeck," Kerala Snyder, Eastman School of Music; Oct. 7 -- "Bach as Religious Thinker," Michael Marissen, Swarthmore College.
Reformed: Oct. 21 -- "When Images Become Idols: Sacred Art and the Protestant Reformation," Carlos Eire, Yale; Oct. 28 -- "Preaching as Worship in the Pulpit of John Calvin," Hughes Oliphant Old, Princeton Theological Seminary.
Counter Reformation: Nov. 4 -- "A Disneyland of the Soul: Charles Borromeo and the Pizzazz of the Counter-Reformation," Jaime Lara, Yale; Nov. 11 -- "Was Palestrina a Reformer?: Rethinking the Myths of Reform," Jessie Ann Owens, Brandeis University.
English Reformation: Nov. 18 -- "Crossroads of Reformation: The Poetry of John Donne," Peter Hawkins, Yale; Dec. 2 -- "John Merbecke: English Reformation Musician," Thomas Murray, Yale; Jan. 13 -- "What Was Wrong with Mr. Cosin's 'Couzening' Devotions? Deconstructing an Episode in 17th-Century Anglican Liturgical 'Hagiography'," Bryan Spinks, Yale.
Anabaptists: Jan. 20 -- "Hymnody from European Anabaptists to North American Mennonites and Amish," Mary K. Oyer, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.