Workshops: Faiths

Workshop 22: David's Harp, Women's Voices

Conveners:

• Linda Austern, Musicology, Purdue University
• Margaret Hannay, English, Siena College
• Paula Loscocco, English, Barnard College
• Anne Prescott, English and French, Barnard College

Music demonstration:

• Mary Ellen Lamb, English, Southern Illinois University

This workshop considered women's creative use of the biblical Psalms, particularly the adoption of the personae of David and of Deborah, the "female David," to empower their own voices as writers and as musical performers. The words of the Psalmist were seen as infinitely malleable, applying directly to the situation of the individual Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant reader. At the same time, in the midst of religious controversies, to quote the Psalter or Deborah's song was not an innocent matter. Recognizing the importance of religious discourse is thus essential in our readings of the works of early modern women, who so automatically used words of scripture, and particularly the Psalms, both to articulate their deepest thoughts and to engage in political/ religious debate. Psalms were also an essential part of women's musical repertoire. They sang Psalms daily in public and private worship, and as they went about their household duties.

The workshop encouraged discussion of the complex issues raised as women use the Psalms as a foundational discourse to articulate their own subjectivity, to advise monarchs, to perform music, and to construct a tradition of women's song. The use of the Psalms was intertwined with issues of gender, religion, politics, subjectivity, and performance.