Part 1: Medieval Manuscript Maker

Cast (in order of appearance):
Paul Bateman as State Library of Victoria Journalist
Caroline Lee  as Sister Pauline
Natalie Gee as Sister Elisabeth

[The signature theme melody is heard in a medieval choral style.] 

The theme music dissolves into the sounds of nuns and monks working quietly with the sounds of singing off in the distance.

Journalist

The year is 1151 AD and we are here in Bingen Germany at the Benedictine abbey. The women in this abbey come from all over Europe and are under the care of the famous author and visionary Hildegard. [His footsteps echo on the stone floor.] Let's go into the Scriptorium where the nuns are working on illuminated manuscripts.

Pauline 

[Hums some of the melody of Hildegard's most recent opera Ordo virtutum.]

Journalist 

Excuse me.

Pauline 

Oh you startled me. I didn't see you there. Forgive me I get so caught up in my work.

Journalist

That is quite beautiful. May I ask what it is you are working on.

Pauline

This is a commission piece. One of the Hohenstaufens has ordered 12 copies of this book of hours.

Journalist 

It looks like you are almost finished.

Pauline

Heavens no. These quires need to go back to the illuminators. We are just scribes. And there is still the gilding to do and then the binding. Would you pass me that other knife. This one is too dull.  Danke.

Journalist

Do you always hold a knife and a quill.

Pauline

Oh ja. I have the quill in my right hand and a knife in my left hand. I have to constantly keep the quill sharp. I must sharpen it 60 or 70 times in a day's work.

Journalist

I notice you use a full range of feathers.

Pauline

Oh ja, depending on the width of the line. This Carolingian script is best with the outer wing feathers of a swan. But other script [sound of vellum rustle] needs a finer line so I prefer raven. You see I am right handed so these are all left wing feathers.

Journalist

Oh Ok. I see. And I see too that you have two ink horns mounted to your desk.

Pauline

Ja, one for red ink and one for black ink. Mounting them there means I won't have an accident.

Journalist

How long does it take to complete one of these books.

Pauline

About one month if everyone in the Scriptorium works on it.

Journalist

That is a lot of focused attention. [The sounds of music being rehearsed in the distance.]

Pauline

Ah, Disco Pati.

Journalist

Disco Pati?

Pauline

Latin. It means learn to suffer. It is a grace to be able to do this pious work. 'The best use for the hands is prayer and writing.' If you will permit me [We hear the rustle of vellum.] I must start this new page. Oh, wrong side.

Journalist

Wrong side? Is there a wrong side to parchment.

Pauline

This is vellum and yah there is the hair side and the skin side. Hair side must always face hair side and smooth side faces smooth other wise it would rub off all the copy.

Elizabeth

Sister, Pauline, the Magistra needs you for rehearsal.

Pauline

Oh, forgive me. We are quite busy. We are preparing for a performance of Hildegard's new musical opus. [She rises.] Elizabeth, here is the musical notation from last night.

Elizabeth

Danke. [She walks away.]

Journalist 

Well, you are certainly busy.

Pauline

Disco pati.

Journalist

Disco pati.

[The signature theme music signals the end of the scene.]

Credits 

Conceived and Directed by John Paul Fischbach
Script by Robert Reid
Engineered and mixed by Carl Priestly at Itchyacoustic Design
Orchestrations by David James Nielsen

Recorded December 2007