First female composer

This is what it's all about.

St. Cassia is considered the first composer known by name in the Occident (ca. 810 - 865 AD in Byzantium, Eastern Roman Empire). She created a large number of artistically, theologically and spiritually rich musical pieces («Troparion of the Cassiani») and texts. These are still performed today in sacred spaces and on secular stages.

Kassia’s life was colourful and dazzling. Already as a young girl, she discussed with important churchmen and scientists. According to scholarly sources, she was a candidate for the bride of the young Emperor Theophilos in 826 (and was spurned by him, despite her beauty, because of her self-assured answer). She was flogged for her advocacy of a liberal interpretation of religion. She entered a religious community as a nun. She later founded a convent. And then she finally began to compose.

But despite her music-historical and historical significance as the first female composer in Europe known by name, Kassia is virtually unknown, especially in the Western world.

That is why we are producing the first professional TV documentary on Kassia to date. And thereby give culturally and religiously sensitive people the chance to get to know this extraordinary woman for the first time or better - her life, her works, her struggles and her dreams.

To this end, we work closely with scholars from the fields of Byzantine studies, medieval studies, music archaeology and theology. Furthermore, new findings from globally active women’s organisations and much traditional knowledge from religious institutions flow into the project.

We have founded the association «Friends of Kassia» especially for this purpose, which serves as the central control centre for all activities from the acquisition of the budget to the conception and production to the sale to TV rights dealers and TV stations.

So far, the board of the association consists of Kurt Frank (archaeological tour operator and publisher) and Mag. Sieglinde Teuwen (retired lawyer of the City of Vienna). Further members are welcome!

Our project is special because ...

Kassia is the timeless example of a creative, emancipated and knowledge-oriented woman. In this way, she can give strength and encouragement to girls and young women in particular who are seeking their own self-determined path.

With the TV documentary «Kassia» we want to address teenagers and young adults in particular and make them familiar with Kassia, her life and her works. For this purpose, we invite young people in all phases of the project to actively participate - from schools, circles of friends or institutions.

This is what we need backing for.

The current crowdfunding campaign at Wemakeit.com is the first step towards realising our project. With the targeted amount of € 15,000, we will finance a professional script.

In total, we have calculated an average budget of € 360,000 for the TV documentary «Kassia», with which we can securely produce a high-quality TV documentary including reenactment scenes. For this purpose, we will carry out further crowdfunding campaigns and sponsorship acquisition in the next few years.

We would like to thank the private individuals, companies and institutions who supported us ideally and/or concretely in the initial phase of the project - namely the publishing house Gorgias Press (US), the music label Capella Romana (US, GB), the terrific illustrator Antoine Helbert (France) and the video professional Axel Stummer (Austria).