Kassiane

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Kassiane (also Kassia, Kassiani, Casia; 810 - bef.867) was a Greek-Byzantine poet, composer and hymnographer. She is one of the first ancient composers whose scores are both extant and able to be interpreted by modern scholars and musicians. Approximately fifty of her pieces are extant.

She was born in 810 in Constantinople into an aristocratic family. About 843 she founded a convent and became its first abbess. One of her pieces was so well known in her time that it was in the Chronicles of medieval Byzantium.

Theophilus and Kassiane

Legend has it that when the young emperor Theophilus was pondering his choice of a bride and empress, seven of the most well-bred virgins were brought to him. While contemplating his choice, the young emperor noticed the fairest one and decided to test her. He walked up to her and told her "All evil came through woman" ("Εκ γυναικός ερρύη τα φαύλα") meaning, of course, Eve. The young woman - Kassiane - immediately retorted "but through woman also came salvation" ("Αλλά και δια γυναικός πηγάζει τα κρείττω") meaning, of course, the Virgin Mary. Theophilus, smarting from the quick reply, chose instead Theodora to be his empress but never forgot Kassiane.


See also

Byzantine music

References