A Brief Story of Peter Abelard

For Soprano Saxophone and Piano accompaniment.'Peter Abelard was a medieval philosopher poet and musician born in France in 1079. He taught at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris lodging with Canon Fulbert whoadmired his work. In time he also became tutor to Fulbert's beautiful seventeen-yearoldniece Helo se.Abelard and Helo se began a passionate love affair (Dance of Peter and Helo se) which resulted in a son Astrolabe.For the sake of Abelard's position they married secretly and Canon Fulbert waspresent at their marriage. But Fulbert later reacted furiously to news that Abelard hadsent Helo se to a convent believing that hehad abandoned her in favour of his owncareer. In revenge he had Abelard castrated (Revenge of Canon Fulbert).After his mutilation Abelard became a monk and he and Helo se remained constantcorrespondents for theremainder of his life. He composed a hymnbook for Helo se who by then was Abbess of the convent of the Paraclete. Among the hymns was avisionary poem of the New Jerusalem set to a beautiful melody in the Dorian mode O QuantaQualia.On his death in 1142 his remains were taken to the Paraclete at Helo se's request andher body was later laid to rest in the same tomb. Finally their remains were taken toParis and in 1817 they were buriedtogether in one sepulchre (In Paradisum).Peter Abelard documented much of his own story in a number of writings includingthe Historia Calamitatum Mearum (The story of mytroubles).'             - James Whitbourn