Berno (c. 978 – 7 June 1048) was theAbbot of Reichenau from his appointment byHenry II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1008. He reformed theGregorian chant. He compiled atonarius, dealing with the organisation of the church chants into 'tones' – eightmodes of theGregorian chant.
Following the reforms initiated under Abbot Immo, who imposed theBenedictine rule at Reichenau, under Berno's guidance the abbey reached its peak as a centre of learning, with a productivescriptorium, as a centre of Benedictine monasticism and eleventh-century liturgical and musical reforms in the German churches.[1] At Reichenau he erected the tall western tower and transept that stand today on the island site of Reichenau-Mittelzell.[2] One of his most famous students wasHermann of Reichenau, who transmittedArabic mathematics andastronomy to central Europe.
Politically the abbot cleaved to his patrons Henry and toHenry III, duke of Bavaria and eventually Emperor, and wrote many letters and missives to the Hungarian kings SaintStephen I of Hungary andPeter Orseolo of Hungary, containing various historical information about the Hungarian kingdom of that time useful for the historian. His activity in regard to Hungary was specially important during the reign of Stephen, as his wife wasGisela, the emperor Henry II's sister.[3]
