Liber hymnorum

work by Notker

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June 30, 2026

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The Liber hymnorum is a collection of sequences, or hymns, compiled by Notker Balbulus, a monk from St. Gall, around 860 CE. Sequences are a type of song used in Christian worship, distinct from psalms and other biblical texts. Notker's work is significant because it presents an integrated cycle of texts covering the entire church year, intended to be performed during mass between biblical readings. These sequences are described as free meditations on scriptural themes, often synthesizing various texts. The practice of creating sequences originated as a way to embellish liturgical texts, with Notker being notably associated with this genre.123

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Latin literature
The 9th to the 11th century
…to compose sequences, but his Liber hymnorum (“Book of Hymns”), begun about 860, is an integrated collection of texts that spans the whole of the church year in an ordered cycle. Performed between the biblical readings in the mass, each sequence is a free meditation upon scriptural themes, often drawing…
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…to compose sequences, but his Liber hymnorum (“Book of Hymns”), begun about 860, is an integrated collection of texts that spans the whole of the church year in an ordered cycle. Performed between the biblical readings in the mass, each sequence is a free meditation upon scriptural themes, often drawing…
Read More