University Affairs Dec. '98: Sibyls on the small screen

The voices swell, lifting to the vaulted ceilings, filling the echoing chambers of an old Ottawa church with the mystical plainsong of Hildegard von Bingen. The rapt audience listens to music written 900 years ago by a nun, who became a composer, healer, intellectual, writer and mystic.

Hildegard von Bingen is but one of the women of the Middle Ages who is garnering attention recently. Seven scholars at McMaster University from the departments of French, English, history, women's studies and music meet regularly to share their interest in women who made enough of an impression from the 12th to the early 15th century to be studied late in the 20th.

"There is a popular interest in searching for women's voices in previous civilizations," says Kathy Garay, professor of history and women's studies.

Recently Dr. Garay and her colleagues were encouraged by the dean of humanities, Evan Simpson, to create a six-part television series with Norflicks Productions Ltd. as partner. The series will feature English anchoresses (women in religious seclusion), French prophetesses, an English housewife/mystic, and McMaster's own illustrated manuscript from the 15th century. The programs are expected to air on Vision TV next fall, and later on PBS in the United States and ITV in Britain.

Dr. Garay, who will host at least one episode, says she's excited about her foray onto the small screen, but she isn't fazed by it, since her group has also created CD-ROMs and video tapes over the past six years. (See the Web site www mcmaster. ca/sybils! )

Why the interest in women mystics? "Women are continuing to explore feminist issues. People are looking for meaning in their lives, and the millenium is approaching. All of these factors feed into a return to spirituality" suggests Dr. Garay.