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The medieval abbess Hildegard von Bingen has gotten plenty of attention in recent years, but more generally the phenomenon of music composed for (and sometimes by) nuns in convents has remained unexplored. In 17th-century Italy, for example, there were several convents that were quite well-known for singing and instrumental playing. Candace Smith has formed the marvelous ensemble Cappella Artemisia specifically to explore this repertory. Their disc
Canti nel chiostro explores music dedicated to the nuns in 17th-century Bologna--florid solo motets and rich choral pieces by celebrated composers such as Adriano Banchieri as well as cloistered nuns such as Sister Lucrezia Orsina Vizzana.
--Matthew Westphal