Ancient monastery tunes to resurface: Unheard monk music to echo once more since the Dissolution following the unearth of a medieval manuscript
Buckland Abbey, a Cistercian abbey in Devon's Tavy Valley, is set to echo with monastic music once again, thanks to the rediscovery of a 15th-century manuscript known as the Buckland Book. The book, which contains a rare collection of medieval music, has been silent since the abbey's closure during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
The manuscript, a "customary," was originally used by the monks at Buckland Abbey to guide their daily religious rituals and services. It was discovered by Professor James Clark, a historian from the University of Exeter, during a research project on behalf of the National Trust.
The music, primarily in the form of plainchant, reflects the monastic life and the anxieties of the time, with prayers for mercy, forgiveness, and protection from harm. The style of plainchant, characterized by single lines of music sung in unison, is typical of monastic music from that era.
The music's connection to the Tudor era is significant because it provides a glimpse into the religious and cultural practices of the time. The music may have been composed in response to crises such as the Tudor "sweating sickness," which spread fear and anxiety throughout England. The fact that much of the music from this period has been lost due to the destruction of monastic libraries during the Tudor Reformation makes this discovery particularly valuable.
The University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir will perform the music as part of a new exhibition at Buckland Abbey in August 2025. This event not only brings historical music back to life but also highlights the cultural heritage of monastic life in medieval England.
Before the Tudor Reformation, creative music-making and performance were common in places like Buckland Abbey across England and Wales. However, with the dissolution of the monasteries, many original documents, including musical manuscripts, were lost or destroyed. The Buckland Book, which was loaned from the British Library for the exhibition, is one of the few surviving examples of medieval music.
There is ongoing research to determine what happened to the Buckland Book between the abbey's closure and its acquisition by the Harley family in the 1720s. It is possible that one of the monks took the book with him and it remained hidden after the hoped-for reversal of the Dissolution didn't come.
The exhibition is open until October 31, and the choir will perform live in the Abbey's medieval Great Barn on August 16 and 17. The rediscovery of the medieval music from Buckland Abbey is a cultural and historical milestone that sheds light on monastic life during the Tudor era and provides a unique opportunity to experience the music that once filled the abbey's halls.
The University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir will perform the monastic music, primarily in the form of plainchant, as part of a new exhibition in Buckland Abbey's medieval Great Barn in August 2025. This event, which brings historical music back to life, also highlights the home-and-garden setting's rich entertainment heritage, showcasing the cultural significance of music in the monastic lifestyle of medieval England.
