| Author | |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 02 2007 at 8:42am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) was a German abbess, visionary mystic and composer. She was born of noble parents in Bockelheim, Germany, and was educated at the Benedictine cloister of Disibodenberg by her aunt Jutta, an anchorite and sister of the count of Spanheim, whom Hildegard succeeded as prioress in 1136.
She started having visions while still a child and at 43 43 she consulted her confessor, who reported the matter to the archbishop of Mainz. A committee of theologians subsequently confirmed the authenticity of Hildegard's visions, and a monk was appointed to help her record them in writing.
The finished work, her best known, is Scivias (1141–52). It relates 26 of her visions that are prophetic and apocalyptic in form and in their treatment of such topics as the church, the relationship between God and man, and redemption.
About 1147 Hildegard left Disibodenberg with several nuns to found a new convent at Rupertsberg, where she continued to exercise the gift of prophecy and to record her visions in writing.
A talented poet and composer, Hildegard collected 77 of her lyric poems, each with a musical setting composed by her, in Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum. Her numerous other writings include lives of saints; two treatises on medicine and natural history, reflecting a quality of scientific observation rare at that period; and extensive correspondence, in which are to be found further prophecies and allegorical treatises.
Although never formally canonized, Hildegard is included as a saint in the Roman Martyrology.
(from Encyclopedia Britannica, with a few additions from Catholic.org, and the Catholic Encyclopedia and Cooking with the Saints)
More from Catholic Encyclopedia
____________________
Have to go pick up dh from surgery. I'll add the music links when I get back.
Feel free to jump in if you've got any favorites you'd like to share, etc.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: July 02 2007 at 1:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Stef!
I just listened to a few samples at Amazon. The music sounds so ancient. I'll check my library to see what they have.
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Betsy
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 02 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1962
|
| Posted: July 02 2007 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
+JMJ+
The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen one of my all time favorite CD's and Anonymous 4 is my very favorite vocal group!
Here is a link to the CD.
I own other CD's by Anonymous 4 and the Masses and Marian music is all very beautiful! I felt so lucky that for my birthday my husband got me tix's to see them live. Definitely worth it if you ever have a chance!!!!!
Betsy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 02 2007 at 4:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We are listening to this right now:
Canticles of Ecstasy
Listen to it here for free (up to 25 plays).
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 03 2007 at 7:13am | IP Logged
|
|
|
from Ambleside Online:
Quote:
| 1. Abbess Hildegard of Bingen was one of the most important musicians of the age, writing over 70 songs and many musical spiritual plays. She was head of an abbey, an accomplished healer, pursued a lifelong interest in science and physiology, and wrote many theological works -- clearly an unusually accomplished woman for her era or any other. Any worthy study of Medieval music simply must include her. A nice biographical sketch is here. The CD recommended features the remarkable soprano Emma Kirkby, who specializes in authentic performance of historical music. Her interpretation of Hildegard's hymns and plainchant is ethereal and transporting. (We will be recommending her recordings again for Renaissance and possibly the Baroque era as well.) She is joined on this CD by Gothic Voices, who are also brilliant performers of sacred medieval music. Be aware that there are scores of recordings of Hildegard of Bingen of late, and while there are a few other good ones out there, her name has unfortunately become a marketing tool for New Age musicians whose recordings are very loosely based on her work and not historical. The Kirkby CD, however, is completely authentic and very beautiful, and thought by many to be the best Hildegard recording available. |
|
|
Alas! I have not been able to find the Kirkby CD... It sounds delightful! From the liner:
Quote:
| "Listen: there was once a king sitting on his throne. Around him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory, bearing the banners of the king with great honor. Then it pleased the king to raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along. Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God." |
|
|
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 05 2007 at 7:54am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another freebie listen:
O frondens virga -- just click on the blue triangle
One translation I found:
O frondens virga
Antiphon to the Virgin Mary
O flowering shoot,
you stand in your nobility
like the rising sun!
Rejoice now and be glad,
and graciously release us weaklings
from our evil ways,
stretching forth your hand
to raise us up.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 10 2007 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just updated my sidebar to play one of the songs from Feather on the Breath of God -- it will play automatically when you go to my blog.
You can find the lyrics and a translation here.
Enjoy!
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 18 2007 at 4:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Click here to listen to Ave Generosa, sung by Soprano Rosa Lamoreaux, from the album Luminous Spirit: Chants of Hildegard von Bingen.
my post, with links to Gregorian chant notation, lyrics and translation.
An excerpt:
Hail, girl of a noble house,
shimmering and unpolluted,
you pupil in the eye of chastity,
you essence of sanctity,
which was pleasing to God.
For the Heavenly potion
was poured into you,
in that the Heavenly word
received a raiment of flesh in you.
You are the lily that dazzles,
whom God knew
before all others.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: July 24 2007 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
This week's selection is
O Ignis Spiritus.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Sept 16 2007 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hey, it's late for the study, but I just saw this on Amazon. It's a brand spanking new picture book on St. Hildegard - The Secret World of Hildegard. Our library generally gets the Winter books so I'll try to check it out. Wonder the slant it will have. Here is the description:
Hildegard von Bingen composed hymns and symphonies, painted glorious pictures, compiled books on medicine, and wrote religious revelations of such ethereal beauty that they inspired the respect of Popes and kings--all in the Dark Ages when most people were illiterate and women were disdained.
Now Jonah Winter teams up once again with his mother, the award-winning illustrator Jeanette Winter, to bring you Hildegard's remarkable story. The result is a lyrical biography that captures Hildegard's faith and beauty--and celebrates the courage it took for a singular woman to let her light shine.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kelly
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1211
|
| Posted: Sept 19 2007 at 6:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
OK, I know this isn't a purist approach, but I have a Hildegard von Bingen cd called "Vision" which I actually like a lot. It's definitely "switched-on" Hildegard, Enya-y in sound, but kinda fun. Sooooo, if you have older children you're trying to convert to old composers, this might be the ticket. My older dc really like this cd. It is definitely on the "groovy" side, though! 
Kelly in FL
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Sept 02 2010 at 5:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hildegard of Bingen: Exemplary Ministry of Authority from the Vatican Info Service
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: July Composer: St. Hildegard von B
