Hartker, Gregor und die Taube

Abstract

An analysis of Ekkehard IV’s statements shows that the well-known image of “Gregor and the Dove” is not intended as a legitimization of the St. Gallen neumes but rather to impart corrective authority on the manuscript in order to confer authority to its owner. Drawing on further illustrations and dedication texts, the author comes to the conclusion that the neumes prescribe an avoidance of faulty chanting and thus disclose to what extent liturgical singing was being controlled. The core of sung liturgy emerges as “chanted theology.”