About this Event
This work-in-progress talk presents preliminary observations from a new project on Muslim perceptions of Christian chant in the medieval Middle East. Christian monasteries were important sites of encounter across confessional lines. Arabic literary sources describe Muslim visitors attending monastic festivals, drinking at monastery estates, and listening to Christian liturgical music. Some anecdotal accounts even portray court musicians drawing inspiration from Christian chant. Music-theoretical writings offer another angle on these questions, preserving occasional but intriguing references to Christian musical practice. Drawing on a small and still-expanding corpus of Arabic sources, the project explores how Muslim authors described and understood Christian chant and what these accounts might reveal about listening across religious boundaries.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Elm City Club, 155 Elm Street, New Haven, United States
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