Saint Cecilia (), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman Christian virgin martyr, who is venerated in

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pag ...

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

, and some

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She became the patroness of music and musicians, it being written that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia "sang in her heart to the Lord". Musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast, on 22 November, is the occasion of concerts and musical festivals. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome. Saint Cecilia is one of several virgin martyrs commemorated by name in the

Canon of the Mass The Canon of the Mass (), also known as the Canon of the Roman Mass and in the Mass of Paul VI as the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I, is the oldest Anaphora (liturgy), anaphora used in the Roman Rite of Mass (liturgy), Mass. The name ''Canon ...

in the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

Church. The church of

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a 5th-century Churches of Rome, church in Rome, Italy, in the Trastevere rioni of Rome, rione. It is dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Cecilia (early 3rd century AD) and serves as the conventual church for the adja ...

, founded in the 3rd century by Pope Urban I, is believed to be on the site of the house where she lived and died.

Life

It is popularly supposed that Cecilia was a noble woman of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

who, with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and a Roman soldier named Maximus, suffered

martyrdom A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In colloqui ...

about 230, under the Emperor

Alexander Severus Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander (1 October 208 – March 235), also known as Alexander Severus, was Roman emperor from 222 until 235. He was the last emperor from the Severan dynasty. Alexander took power in 222, when he succeeded his slain co ...

Giovanni Battista de Rossi Giovanni Battista (Carlo) de Rossi (23 February 1822 – 20 September 1894) was an Italian archaeologist, famous even outside his field for rediscovering early Christian catacombs. Life and works Born in Rome, he was the son of Commendatore C ...

, however, argues that instead she perished in

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

under the Emperor

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors ...

between 176 and 180, citing the report of

Venantius Fortunatus Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus ( 530 600/609 AD; ), known as Saint Venantius Fortunatus (, ), was a Latin poet and hymnographer in the Merovingian Court, and a bishop of the Early Church who has been venerated since the Middle Ages. ...

Bishop of Poitiers The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Poitiers (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Metropolitae Pictaviensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse Metropolitain de Poitiers'') is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The archepiscopal see is in the city of ...

(d. 600). According to the story, despite her vow of virginity, her parents forced her to marry a pagan nobleman named Valerian. During the wedding, Cecilia sat apart singing to God in her heart, and for that, she was later declared the saint of musicians. When the time came for her marriage to be consummated, Cecilia told Valerian that watching over her was an

angel of the Lord The (or an) Angel of the Lord ( '' mal’āḵ YHWH'' "messenger of Yahweh") is an entity appearing repeatedly in the Tanakh on behalf of the God of Israel. The guessed term ''malakh YHWH'', which occurs 65 times in the text of the Hebrew Bi ...

, who would punish him if he sexually violated her but would love him if he respected her virginity. When Valerian asked to see the angel, Cecilia replied that he could see the angel if he would go to the third milestone on the

Via Appia The Appian Way (Latin and Italian: Via Appia) is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is indicated by its common name, recor ...

and be baptized by

Pope Urban I Pope Urban I (), also known as Saint Urban (175?–230), was the bishop of Rome from 222 to 23 May 230.Kirsch, Johann Peter (1912). "Pope Urban I" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company. He was born in Rome ...

. After following Cecilia's advice, he saw the angel standing beside her, crowning her with a

chaplet Chaplet may refer to: * Chaplet (headgear), a wreath or garland for the head * Chaplet (prayer), a string of prayer beads and the associated prayer * Chaplet (metallurgy), a metal form to hold a core in place See also

* Wreath (attire) * Ukr ...

of roses and lilies. The martyrdom of Cecilia is said to have followed that of her husband Valerian and his brother at the hands of the prefect Turcius Almachius. The legend about Cecilia's death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church.Leonard Foley, OFM, revised by Pat McCloskey
"Saint of the Day: Saint Cecilia"
Franciscan Media]. . St. Cecilia was buried in the

Catacomb of Callixtus The Catacomb(s) of Callixtus (also known as the Cemetery of Callixtus) is one of the Catacombs of Rome on the Appian Way, notable for containing the Crypt of the Popes (Italian: ''Cappella dei Papi''), which once contained the tombs of several p ...

and later transferred to the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. In 1599, legend has it that her body was found still

incorrupt Incorruptibility is a Catholic and Orthodox belief that divine intervention allows some human bodies (specifically saints and beati) to completely or partially avoid the normal process of decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness. I ...

, seeming to be asleep. Cecilia is one of the most famous Roman martyrs, although some elements of the stories recounted about her do not appear in the source material. According to

Johann Peter Kirsch Johann Peter Kirsch (3 November 1861 – 4 February 1941) was a Luxembourgish ecclesiastical historian and biblical archaeologist. Life Johann Peter Kirsch was born in Dippach, Luxembourg, the son of Andreas and Katherine Didier Kirsch. At ...

, the existence of the martyr is a historical fact. At the same time, some details bear the mark of a pious romance, like many other similar accounts compiled in the fifth and sixth centuries. The relation between Cecilia and Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, mentioned in the

Acts of the Martyrs Acts of the Martyrs () are accounts of the suffering and death of Christian martyrs which were collected and used in early Catholic church liturgies, as attested by Augustine of Hippo, Saint Augustine."Acts of the Martyrs." Cross, F. L., ed. The Ox ...

, has some historical foundation. Her feast day has been celebrated since about the fourth century. There is no mention of Cecilia in the ''

Depositio Martyrum The ''Liberian Catalogue'' ({{langx, la, Catalogus Liberianus) is a list of the bishops of Rome from Peter to Liberius (died 366). For each bishop, the list gives the lengths of his episcopate, the corresponding consular dates and the names of t ...

'', but there is a record of an early Roman church founded by a lady of this name, Santa Cecilia in

Trastevere Trastevere () is the 13th of Rome, Italy. It is identified by the initials R. XIII and it is located within Municipio I. Its name comes from Latin (). Its coat of arms depicts a golden head of a lion on a red background, the meaning of which i ...

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

The church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is reputedly built on the site of the house in which she lived. The original church was constructed in the fourth century; during the ninth century,

Pope Paschal I Pope Paschal I (; died 824) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 25 January 817 to his death in 824. Paschal was a member of an aristocratic Roman family. Before his election to the papacy, he was abbot of St. Stephen's monas ...

had remains that were supposedly hers buried there. In 1599, while leading a renovation of the church, Cardinal

Paolo Emilio Sfondrati Paolo Emilio Sfondrati (1560 – 14 February 1618) was an Italian cardinal. Biography Born to a noble family in Milan and the nephew of Pope Gregory XIV, he was the cardinal priest of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, papal legate in Bologna, member ...

had the remains, which he reported to be

, excavated and reburied.

Name

The name "Cecilia" applied generally to Roman women who belonged to the

plebeian In ancient Rome, the plebeians or plebs were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words "commoners". Both classes were hereditary. Etymology The precise origins of the gro ...

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

of the

Caecilii The gens Caecilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are mentioned in history as early as the fifth century BC, but the first of the Caecilii who obtained the consulship was Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter, in 284 BC.'' ...

. Legends and hagiographies, mistaking it for a personal name, suggest fanciful etymologies. Among those cited by

Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer ( ; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for '' The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He ...

in " The Second Nun's Tale" are: lily of heaven, the way for the blind, contemplation of

heaven Heaven, or the Heavens, is a common Religious cosmology, religious cosmological or supernatural place where beings such as deity, deities, angels, souls, saints, or Veneration of the dead, venerated ancestors are said to originate, be throne, ...

and the active life, as if lacking in blindness, and a heaven for people to gaze upon.

Patroness of musicians

The first record of a music festival in her honour was held at

Évreux Évreux () is a commune in and the capital of the department of Eure, in the French region of Normandy. History Antiquity In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century AD, was named '' Mediolanum Aulercorum'', "the central town ...

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

in 1570. The

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia () is one of the oldest musical institutions in the world, founded by the papal bull ''Ratione congruit'', issued by Sixtus V in 1585, which invoked two saints prominent in Western musical history: Gre ...

is one of the oldest musical institutions in the world. It was founded by the

papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...

, ''Ratione congruit'', issued by

Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V (; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death, in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order, where h ...

in 1585, which invoked two saints prominent in Western musical history:

Gregory the Great Pope Gregory I (; ; – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great (; ), was the 64th Bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 until his death on 12 March 604. He is known for instituting the first recorded large-scale mission from Rom ...

, after whom

Gregorian chant Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainsong, plainchant, a form of monophony, monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song in Latin (and occasionally Greek language, Greek) of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant developed main ...

is named, and Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Her feast day became an occasion for musical concerts and festivals that occasioned well-known poems by

John Dryden John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration (En ...

and

Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early ...

and music by

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...

('' Ode to St. Cecilia''); three different

oratorios An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishabl ...

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'' ''H.146, Marche en rondeau''. This theme is st ...

, ''Caecilia virgo et martyr octo vocibus'' H.397, for soloists, double chorus, double string orchestra and bc, ''Cecilia virgo et martyr'' H.413, for soloists, chorus, two treble instruments and bc, and ''Caecilia virgo et martyr'' H.415, for soloists, chorus, two treble instruments and bc, to libretti probably written by

Philippe Goibaut Philippe Goibaut des Bois La Grugère (; 22? March 1629 – 1 July 1694), known to his contemporaries as Monsieur Du Bois (), was a translator of St. Augustine, member of the Académie Française and director of Marie de Lorraine, Duchess of Guise, ...

);

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

('' Ode for St. Cecilia's Day''; '' Alexander's Feast'');

Charles Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

('' St. Cecilia Mass''); as well as

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, o ...

, who was born on her feast day (''

Hymn to St Cecilia A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

'', based on a poem by

W. H. Auden Wystan Hugh Auden (; 21 February 1907 – 29 September 1973) was a British-American poet. Auden's poetry is noted for its stylistic and technical achievement, its engagement with politics, morals, love, and religion, and its variety in tone, ...

). Herbert Howells' ''A Hymn to Saint Cecilia'' has words by Ursula Vaughan Williams;

Gerald Finzi Gerald Raphael Finzi (14 July 1901 – 27 September 1956) was a British composer. Finzi is best known as a choral composer, but also wrote in other genres. Large-scale compositions by Finzi include the cantata '' Dies natalis'' for solo voice and ...

's "For Saint Cecilia", Op. 30, was set to verses written by Edmund Blunden; Michael Hurd's 1966 composition "A Hymn to Saint Cecilia" sets John Dryden's poem; and

Frederik Magle Frederik Reesen Magle (; born 17 April 1977) is a Danish composer, concert organist, and pianist. He writes contemporary classical music as well as fusion of classical music and other genres. His compositions include orchestral works, cantatas ...

's ''Cantata to Saint Cecilia'' is based on the history of Cecilia. ''The Heavenly Life'', a poem from ''

Des Knaben Wunderhorn ''Des Knaben Wunderhorn: Alte deutsche Lieder'' (German for "The boy's magic horn: old German songs") is a collection of German folk poems and songs edited by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano. The book was published in three volumes, the ...

'' (which

Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic music, Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and ...

used in his '' Symphony No. 4'') mentions that "Cecilia and all her relations make excellent court musicians." From the name of Cecilia comes ''Cecyliada'', the name of the festival of sacred, choral, and contemporary music, held from 1994 in Police, Poland.

Legacy

Cecilia symbolizes the central role of music in the liturgy. The Cistercian

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

s of the convent nearby Santa Cecilia in Trastevere shear lambs' wool to be woven in the

pallium The pallium (derived from the Roman ''pallium'' or ''palla'', a woolen cloak; : pallia) is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the pope, but for many centuries bestowed by the Holy See upon metropolitan bish ...

s of new metropolitan archbishops. The lambs are raised by the

Trappist The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a Religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious o ...

s of the Abbey

Tre Fontane Tre Fontane Abbey (; ), or the Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius, is a Roman Catholic abbey in Rome, held by monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, better known as Trappists. It is known for raising the lambs whose wool is u ...

in Rome. The Pope blesses the lambs every 21 January, the Feast of

Saint Agnes Agnes of Rome (21 January 304) is a virgin martyr, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Anglican Communion and Lutheranism, Lutheran Chu ...

. The pallia are given by the Pope to the new metropolitan archbishops on the

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June. The celebration is of ancient Christi ...

, 29 June. Located on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...

, St. Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde was founded in 1882. The nuns live a traditional monastic life of prayer, work, and study in accordance with the ancient

Rule of Saint Benedict The ''Rule of Saint Benedict'' () is a book of precepts written in Latin by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. The spirit of Saint Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of th ...

. The famous luthier

Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (; 7 October 1798 – 19 March 1875) was a French luthier, businessman, inventor and winner of many awards. He was one of the finest French luthiers of the 19th century and a key figure in the world of violin making. ...

produces a line of violin and viola under the name St. Cécile with a decal stamped on the upper back. Cecilia is remembered in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

with a

commemoration Commemoration may refer to: *Commemoration (Anglicanism), a religious observance in Churches of the Anglican Communion *Commemoration (liturgy), insertion in one liturgy of portions of another *Memorialization *"Commemoration", a song by the 3rd a ...

on 22 November. She is honored on the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar with

Agnes of Rome Agnes of Rome (21 January 304) is a virgin martyr, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Anglican Communion and Lutheranism, Lutheran Chu ...

on 21 January. Croatian journal for

church music Church music is a genre of Christian music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclesiastical liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. History Early Christian musi ...

'' Sveta Cecilija'' is named after her. It is published since 1877.

Iconography

Cecilia is frequently depicted playing the viola, a

portative organ A portative organ (from the Latin verb , "to carry"), also known during Italian Trecento as the , is a small pipe organ that consists of one rank of flue pipes, sometimes arranged in two rows, to be played while strapped to the performer at a r ...

, or other musical instruments, evidently to express what was often attributed to her, namely that while the musicians played at her nuptials, she sang in her heart to God. The organ, however, may be misattributed to her as the result of a mistranslation, though this is denied by the Italian musicologist and organist

Domenico Morgante Domenico Morgante (Monopoli, 1956) is an Italian musicologist, organist and harpsichordist. Biography Graduated and specialized Cum Laude in Musicology, Organ, Harpsichord, Educational Sciences, he was a student of Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, G ...

. A miniature Saint Cecilia beneath

Worcester Cathedral Worcester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ and Blessed Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England cathedral in Worcester, England, Worcester, England. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Worcester and is the Mother Church# ...

was featured on the reverse side of the Sir

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

£20 banknote, which was withdrawn by the

Bank of England The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the Kingdom of England, English Government's banker and debt manager, and still one ...

in 2010.

In music

Renaissance, baroque and classical music

composed four ''Histoires sacrées'' using a text thought to have been written by his colleague

des Bois La Grugère: ** ''In honorem Caeciliae, Valeriani et Tiburtij canticum'' H.394 for three voices, two treble instruments, and continuo (1675 ?). ** ''Caecilia virgo et martyr'' octo vocibus H.397 for soloists, double chorus, double orchestra, and continuo (1677–78). ** ''Caecilia virgo et martyr'', H.413 for soloists, chorus, and two treble instruments (1683–85). ** ''Caecilia virgo et martyr'' H.415 – H.415 a for soloists, chorus, and two treble instruments (1686). *

, Laudate Ceciliam (1683), Welcome to all the pleasures (1683), Raise, raise the voice (c1685) and

Hail! Bright Cecilia ''Hail! Bright Cecilia'' ( Z.328), also known as ''Ode to St. Cecilia'', was composed by Henry Purcell to a text by the Irishman Nicholas Brady in 1692 in honour of the feast day of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. Annual celebration ...

(1692). *

Sébastien de Brossard Sébastien de Brossard (; 12 September 165510 August 1730) was a French music theorist, composer and collector. Life Brossard was born in Dompierre, Orne. After studying philosophy and theology at Caen, he studied music and established himself ...

, "Canticle for Saint Cécila" SdB.9 (1720 ?) *

Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque music, Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan sch ...

''Il martirio di santa Cecilia'', oratorio donné pour la première fois le 1^er mars 1708; ''Messa di Santa Cecilia''(1720). *

Georg Friedrich Händel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well-known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

composed two works for Saint Cecilia with

: The Oratorio Alexander's Feast or The Power of Music (1736) and Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1739). *

Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

, ''Missa Sanctae Caeciliae'' ou ''Missa Cellensis in honorem Beatissimae Virginis Mariae (1766–67).'' *

Ferdinand Hiller Ferdinand (von) Hiller (24 October 1811 – 11 May 1885) was a German composer, conductor, pianist, writer and music director. Biography Ferdinand Hiller was born to a wealthy Jewish family in Frankfurt am Main, where his father Justus (origin ...

, ''St. Cäcilia'' (1848), cantata for soloists and orchestra to the text by

Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (15 March 1816 – 29 June 1873) was a German novelist and poet. He settled in Cologne, and became a popular poet, novelist, and chronicler of the Rhine region. Early life Müller was born in Königswint ...

. *

, ''Hymne à Sainte Cécile'', CG 557 (1865) for solo violin and orchestraList of works by Charles Gounod

IMSLP The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a subscription-based digital library of public domain, public-domain sheet music, music scores. The project use ...

, accessed 2022-05-14 *

Julius Benedict Sir Julius Benedict (27 November 1804 – 5 June 1885) was a German-born composer and conductor, resident in England for most of his career. Life and music Benedict was born in Stuttgart, the son of a Jewish banker, and in 1820 learnt compos ...

, ''Legend of Saint Cecilia'' (premiered 1866)

Contemporary music

Judith Shatin Judith Shatin (Allen) (born November 21, 1949) is an American composer. Currently, she is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor at the University of Virginia. She also founded and is Director of the Virginia Center for Computer Music.Fred Momotenko Alfred Momotenko-Levitsky (; born 7 August 1970), also known as Fred Momotenko or just Momotenko, is a Russian and Dutch composer, percussionist, and sound engineer. Born to a musical family, he pursued studies in music in his native Soviet Union ...

composed ''"Cecilia"'', a composition for full mixed choir, "a hymn to the past as well as to the future of the monastic tradition". The world premiere was at

Koningshoeven Abbey Koningshoeven Abbey () is a monastery of the Trappists (Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance) founded in 1881 in Berkel-Enschot in North Brabant, the Netherlands. Foundation In 1880 the situation facing monastic orders in France was ...

on Saint Cecilia's feast day, 2014. *

wrote ''

'', a setting for the poem by

. *

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

wrote the 1970 song "

Cecilia Cecilia is a personal name originating in the name of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. History The name has been popularly used in Europe (particularly the United Kingdom and Italy, where in 2018 it was the 43rd most popular name for g ...

" which title refers to the patron saint of music. *

Lou Harrison Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer, music critic, music theorist, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. Harrison initially wrote in a dissonant, ultramodernist style similar to his for ...

wrote his Mass for St. Cecilia's Day for choir, harp, and drone (1983–86). * Stalk-Forrest Group (later name changed to Blue Öyster Cult), recorded the song "St. Cecilia". The EP was later released under the SFG name as the ''St. Cecilia Sessions''. *

Arvo Pärt Arvo Pärt (; born 11 September 1935) is an Estonian composer of contemporary classical music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs tintinnabuli, a compositional technique he invented. Pärt's music is in p ...

was commissioned to compose a work for the

Great Jubilee The Great Jubilee in 2000 was a major event in the Catholic Church, held from Christmas Eve (24 December) 1999 to Epiphany (holiday), Epiphany (6 January) 2001. Like previous Jubilee in the Catholic Church, Jubilee years, it was a celebration of ...

in Rome in 2000, and wrote (Cecilia, Roman virgin) for mixed choir and orchestra. The Italian text deals with the saint's life and martyrdom. It was first performed on 19 November 2000, close to her feast day, by the

conducted by

Myung-whun Chung Myung-whun Chung (; born 22 January 1953) is a South Korean conductor and pianist. Career Performer Chung studied piano with Maria Curcio and won joint second-prize in the 1974 International Tchaikovsky Competition. He performed in the Chun ...

. *

composed "For St. Cecilia" for solo tenor, chorus (SATB), and orchestra. Setting of a work by English poet and author

Edmund Blunden Edmund Charles Blunden (1 November 1896 – 20 January 1974) was an English poet, author, and critic. Like his friend Siegfried Sassoon, he wrote of his experiences in World War I in both verse and prose. For most of his career, Blunden was als ...

. Duration ca 18 minutes. *

Herbert Howells Herbert Norman Howells (17 October 1892 – 23 February 1983) was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music. Life Background and early education Howells was born in Lydney, Gloucest ...

composed his "A Hymn for Saint Cecilia" for choir and organ in 1960, as commissioned by the

Worshipful Company of Musicians The Worshipful Company of Musicians is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Its history dates back to at least 1350. Originally a specialist guild for musicians, its role became an anachronism in the 18th century, when the centre of ...

, with a text by

Ursula Vaughan Williams Joan Ursula Penton Vaughan Williams (née Lock, formerly Wood; 15 March 1911 – 23 October 2007) was an English poet and author, and biographer of her second husband, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. Biography Early years Ursula Vaughan ...

. * On the 2015 Feast of Saint Cecilia,

Foo Fighters The Foo Fighters are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana (band), Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, gu ...

released their EP ''

Saint Cecilia Saint Cecilia (), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman Christian virgin martyr, who is venerated in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, Orthodox, Anglican Communion, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She became the ...

'' for free download via their website. The five-song EP features the title song "

". The EP was recorded during an impromptu studio session at Hotel Saint Cecilia located in Austin, Texas. * ''Informator Choristarum'' (organist and master of the choristers) at

Magdalen College Magdalen College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1458 by Bishop of Winchester William of Waynflete. It is one of the wealthiest Oxford colleges, as of 2022, and one of the strongest academically, se ...

, Oxford (1957–1981), Bernard Rose's unaccompanied anthem for SATB choir (with divisions) ''Feast Song For St. Cecilia'' (1974) is a setting a poem of the same name by his son, musician Gregory Rose. * E. Florence Whitlock composed ''Ode to St. Cecilia, Opus 5'', based on text by John Dryden, in 1958. * Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist, Rik Emmett, composed the song "Calling St. Cecilia" on his 1992 LP ''Ipso Facto''. *

Blue Öyster Cult Blue Öyster Cult ( ; sometimes abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in the hamlet of Stony Brook, in 1967. They have sold 25 million records worldwide, including 7 million in the United States. ...

released the song "The Return of St. Cecilia", on their 2020 album ''

The Symbol Remains ''The Symbol Remains'' is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on October 9, 2020. The album title comes from a lyric in the song "Shadow of California" on the band's 1983 LP '' The Revölution by Night''. ...

''. * The Chicago band Turnt (now known as Everybody All The Time) released a song called "Girls" which refers to St Cecilia in the lyrics. The song was first performed at Northwestern University's Mayfest Battle of the Bands on Friday 24 May 2013 at 27 Live in downtown Evanston. * On 2008

Brian Eno Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...

's and

David Byrne David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American New wave music, new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has ...

's album "

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today ''Everything That Happens Will Happen Today'' is the second collaborative studio album by David Byrne and Brian Eno, released on August 18, 2008, by Todo Mundo. Marking Byrne's eighth studio effort overall and Byrne and ...

", Cecilia is referred to in the song "The River". *

Iceage Iceage is a Danish punk rock band from Copenhagen. The band was formed in 2008 and has released the albums '' New Brigade'' (2011), '' You're Nothing'' (2013), '' Plowing Into the Field of Love'' (2014), '' Beyondless'' (2018), and ''Seek She ...

release song “Dear Saint Cecilia” on their 2021 album ''

Seek Shelter ''Seek Shelter'' is the fifth studio album by Danish punk rock band Iceage. It was released on 7 May 2021, by Mexican Summer. A post-punk album with classic rock and Britpop influences, ''Seek Shelter'' experiments with diverse sounds that rec ...

''. * British pop band The Vamps released the song "

Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart) "Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)" is a 2014 single by British pop band the Vamps, with a chorus adapted from Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 hit "Cecilia". The song appeared on their debut studio album '' Meet the Vamps'' (2014), but a later version fea ...

" on their 2014 debut studio album '' Meet the Vamps'' * Welsh rock band

Holding Absence Holding Absence are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in 2015. None of the founding members remain in the band. The group consists of lead vocalist Lucas Woodland, guitarist Scott Carey, and bassist Benjamin Elliott. The band rele ...

released the song "Saint Cecilia" on the split EP "This Is as One" with British metal band Loathe in 2018.

In pop culture

* The poem "Moschus Moschiferus", by Australian poet

A. D. Hope Alec Derwent Hope (21 July 190713 July 2000) was an Australian poet and essayist known for his satirical slant. He was also a critic, teacher and academic. He was referred to in an American journal as "the 20th century's greatest 18th-century ...

(1907–2000), is subtitled "A Song for St Cecilia's Day". The poem is of 12 stanzas and was written in the 1960s. * Cecilia is also the subject of Alexander Pope's poem "Ode on St. Cecilia's Day". *

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer ( ; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He w ...

retells the story of Cecilia and Valerian and his brother in " The Second Nun's Tale" in ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' () is a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The book presents the tales, which are mostly written in verse, as part of a fictional storytelling contest held ...

''. * Cecilia is a symbol for the divine power of music in

Heinrich von Kleist Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist (; 18 October 177721 November 1811) was a German poet, dramatist, novelist, short story writer and journalist. His best known works are the theatre plays ''The Prince of Homburg'', '' Das Käthchen von Heilbronn'' ...

's extended anecdote "

St. Cecilia, or the Power of Music "St. Cecilia, or the Power of Music" () is a short story by the German author Heinrich von Kleist. The story was written on October 27, 1810 as a gift for daughter of his friend Adam Müller, and was first published in November 1810 in Kleist's li ...

". * Saint Cecilia is mentioned throughout ''

Carry On Abroad ''Carry On Abroad'' is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas, the 24th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). The film features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw, ...

'' as a group of monks intend to search for her tomb with an elixir named after her in the film. * Saint Cecilia features in the 1979 collection of short stories by

Angela Carter Angela Olive Pearce (formerly Carter, Stalker; 7 May 1940 – 16 February 1992), who published under the name Angela Carter, was an English novelist, short story writer, poet, and journalist, known for her feminist, magical realism, and picar ...

"The Bloody Chamber" in the story of the same name. * In the Japanese manga and anime series ''

Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hazano Kazutake. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Shōnen Magazine R'' online magazine from April 2017 to January 2023, when the magazine was disbanded, and was transferred to the ''Mont ...

'', the main character's name is inspired from Saint Cecilia * In the episodic

survival horror Survival horror is a Video game genre, subgenre of horror games. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition or weapons, health, speed, and visio ...

video game ''Song of Horror'', the entirety of episode 4 takes place in the fictional St. Cecilia's Abbey. * Croatian writer Mario Volf (

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

: Martin Tower) wrote

biographical novel The biographical novel is a genre of novel which provides a fictional account of a contemporary or historical person's life. Like other forms of biographical fiction, details are often trimmed or reimagined to meet the artistic needs of the fictio ...

''Sveta Cecilija'' ("Saint Cecilia"). * In the pop opera ''

Bare Bare literally means fully or partially naked, or figuratively used it means minimal. Bare may also refer to: People * Bare (surname) * Jader Volnei Spindler (born 1982), Brazilian football player nicknamed "Bare" Places * Bare Island ...

'', the catholic school is named St. Cecilia's. *The 1970's hit song ''

'' by

Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo comprising the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music acts of the 1960s. Their most famous recordings include three US number-one sing ...

(written by

) is a reference to St. Cecilia. The song's chorus line was sampled by The Vamps in their 2014 single '' Oh Cecilia''.

Gallery

File:Lelio Orsi 003.jpg, ''Saint Cecilia and Saint Valerian'',

Lelio Orsi Lelio Orsi (1508/1511 – 1587), also known as Lelio da Novellara, was a Mannerist painter and architect of the Reggio Emilia school in northern Italy. He was born and died in Novellara, and much of his work was completed in Reggio. He appears ...

(c. 1555) File:Domenichino.jpg, Domenichino, ''Saint Cecilia with an angel holding a musical score'', (c. 1617–18). File:Monvoisin, Raymond - Santa Cecilia -ost 77x63 PinUnConcep f03.jpg, ''Saint Cecilia'' by

Raymond Monvoisin '' 200px, Portrait of Andrés Bello '' Raymond Auguste Quinsac Monvoisin (May 31, 1790 – March 26, 1870) was a French artist and painter. Biography Monvoisin was born in Bordeaux. Although he initiated a career in the military by indication o ...

File:CeciliaCrownsItalianMaster.jpg, ''An Angel Crowning Saints Cecilia and Valerian'' (1330s) File:StaCeciliaCeciliaStatue.jpg, Statue from the porch of St. Cecilia, Trastevere File:CeciliaMaderno.jpg, Stefano Maderno, '' St. Cecilia'', 1599 File:Saint Cecilia Wymondley.jpg, ''Saint Cecilia Wymondley'' File:All Saints church, Preston Bagot - Saint Cecilia stained-glass window 2016.jpg, ''Saint Cecilia'' stained glass by

Edward Burne-Jones Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet, (; 28 August 183317 June 1898) was an English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter. Burne-Jones worked with William Morris as a founding part ...

in All Saints church, Preston Bagot File:Franciscan-Sisters-Saint-Cecilia-window-vocations-fscc-calledtobe.org.jpg, Franciscan Sisters' Saint Cecilia window inspires vocations at Saint Mary's Chapel, Holy Family Convent Motherhouse in Manitowoc, WI Image:CeciliaCrownsDomenichino.jpg, ''The Crowns'' File:Domenichino - St Cecilia before the Judge - WGA06407.jpg, ''Cecilia's Trial'' File:CeciliaAlms.jpg, ''She distributes her goods to the poor'' File:Death of Saint Cecilia.jpg, ''Her death'' Image:StaCeciliaApseMosaic.jpg, The apse Image:StaCeciliaApseMosaic.left.jpg, Detail: left side Image:ApseMosaic.right.jpg, Detail: right side

References

Citations

External links

Catholic Online – Saints and Angels: ''St. Cecilia''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cecilia 220s deaths 230s deaths 3rd-century births 3rd-century Roman women 3rd-century Romans 3rd-century musicians 3rd-century women musicians Virgin martyrs Ancient singers Anglican saints Ancient Christian female saints Caecilii Incorrupt saints Italian musicians People executed by decapitation People executed by the Roman Empire Saints from Roman Italy