Stephen of Liège

Stephen of Liège (also Étienne de Liège; (c. 850 – 16 May 920) was a Frankish churchman who was the bishop of Liège from 901 until his death in 920. He was a hagiographer and composer of church music. His surviving compositions include three Proper Offices for the Office of the Trinity, the Office of the Invention of St Stephen and the Office of St Lambert. Like the Offices of his contemporary Hucbald, Stephen's compositions follow the eight modes,[1] though the musicologist Yves Chartier does not consider this innovation, asserting that both composers "did no more than to apply openly a manner of composition that was prevalent in their milieu."[2]

Life and career

Stephen was born in the Low Countries around 850. In Metz he attended cathedral school and later went to the Aachen's palace school in 864. Following his education, Stephen attained numerous church posts: he became an abbot of St Evre, St Mihiel and Lobbes as well as a canon of Metz Cathedral. He was elected bishop of Liège in 901, holding the post until his death in Liége on 16 May 920.[1]

His works include In Festi Sanctisissimae Trinitatis, an office for the feast of the Trinity. The celebration of the Feast of the Holy Trinity is attributed to him.[3][1]

Recording
  • Etienne de Liège. In festo sanctissimae trinitatis. Psallentes. RIC 249

References
  1. Huglo 2001a.
  2. Chartier 1995, p. 39.
  3. The Menologies (P.L., CLI, 1020), written during the pontificate of Gregory VII (Nilles, II, 460), call the Sunday after Pentecost a Dominica vacans, with no special Office, but add that in some places they recited the Office of the Holy Trinity composed by Bishop Stephen of Liège (903–20);Catholic Encyclopedia.

Sources
  • Chartier, Yves (1995). L'oeuvre musicale d'Hucbald de Saint-Amand: les compositions et le traité de musique. Montréal: Bellarmin. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-2-89007-732-4.
  • Huglo, Michel (2001a). "Stephen of Liège". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.26706. (subscription or UK public library membership required)

Further reading
  • Image of the Office of the Trinity by Stephen of Liège
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