Hoya, Katherina von (d. around 1470)
Hoya, Katherina von (d. around 1470)
German composer who compiled the Wienhausen Liederbuch which contained many German and Latin songs. Birth date unknown; died around 1470; was 15th-century abbess of the Cistercian convent of Wienhausen (1420–70).
Katherina von Hoya was born of a noble German family in the 15th century and like many women of her station entered a convent. For 50 years, she was the abbess of the Cistercian convent of Wienhausen, near Celle, a powerful position in the Middle Ages. Convents and monasteries were centers of learning and culture, providing resources not normally available in the outside world. It is not surprising, therefore, that many women flourished as composers in this setting, especially as they were in charge of their own creativity. Von Hoya is known for the Wienhausen Liederbuch which was compiled by at least five nuns. In it, there were 37 Low German, 17 Latin, and six mixed Latin and German songs. One of the best pieces, No. 24, is attributed to Von Hoya and Nos. 13 and 25 are also thought to be her work.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia