The Great Matins Responsories in the Birgittine Sisters' Liturgy of Hours - 'An Ode to Petrus of Skänninge'

Abstract

In my musicological dissertation 2012 I have come to a conclusion that seven out of 21 great responsories are composition work of Petrus of Skänninge. With my further research, I have come to question, if there are even three more, which are originally his work and only later variated for the use of the Birgittine brothers . This means that not only seven but ten out of 21 great responsories are assumingly, partly or totally, work of Petrus of Skänninge. However, I leave this question open regarding the three Friday great responsories. The great responsories are complicated compositions, which are written with regard to the mediaeval way of composing with musical formulas. In the work of Petrus of Skänninge can be seen a balanced reaching for continuity and also for a change: the major number of the Great responsories are based on the old Gregorian tradition with slight additions by Petrus of Skänninge; his own compositions are a renewal and respectful change giving the tradition new growth.