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Ensemble: Christensen, Høxbro, Davis, CON FUOCO Album: Hildegard Von Bingen Video: Scivias • Abbess, visionary, prophetess, herbalist, philosopher, healer, writer, politician, poet, composer. These are some of the paths taken by Hildegard Von Bingen in her long life. Without a doubt Hildegard was one of the greatest personalities of the Middle Ages. She was abbess of two convents and at around the age of 40 she confessed to having visions that made her extremely famous and which were confirmed firstly by Bernard of Clairvaux and subsequently made official in the Synod of 1147 by Pope Eugene III probably on “advice“ of the famous abbot of Claurvaux. This official recognition further increased the visits, and consequently the earnings, of the monastery of Disibodenberg where Hildegard resided, so much so that when the prophetess decided to move and found a new community in front of Bingen, a place which she said was indicated by a vision, he found strong opposition from the monks of Disibodenberg who with his departure would have lost great prestige, so to speak. Then suddenly Hildegard went to bed reporting a paralysis interpreted as a sign of divine anger for not having immediately fulfilled the command to give life to a new community. Fortunately, the paralysis suddenly disappeared when she was granted permission by her superiors to leave with eighteen nuns to found a new monastery. It was 1150, and thanks to this miraculous proto-strike Hildegard was able to found her monastery while also maintaining excellent relations with the monks of Disibodenberg. Some scholars today try to dismiss Hildegard's visions with migraines with aura, others attribute a political move to these visions, I am honestly not interested in an answer also because it would only be a sterile modern conjecture. The authority Hildegard achieved allowed her to dispense advice and admonitions to the greatest political personalities of her time and her opinion was always held in high regard by popes, rulers and scholars throughout Europe, truly influencing the course of events. Famous is the letter to Emperor Barbarossa, who after meeting Hildegard forever had enormous esteem for her, in which the abbess warns him for the election of an antipope by writing to him: “Before my eyes in the mystical vision I am clear that you you behave like a child, or rather like a madman. But you still have time to continue to reign on earth. Be careful that the High King does not destroy you because of your blindness [...]“ Hildegard traveled extensively and preached in many cities of Europe, her life is an engaging novel, but this is not the place to describe it accurately as we are here to talk about one of the many aspects in which Hildegard excelled in originality: music, which has always been a central element in Hildegard's religious and philosophical universe. For her, music is not a simple appendage of the written word, but a bridge that connects the earthly dimension to the celestial one: “I sang and wrote melodies for the glory of God, without instructions from anyone, even if I had never been taught how to read music or sing.“ Well that's it, here's the truth that could shock the academics of the conservatories who know very little if the sounds of the universe are not caged in the lines of the score! And what about the use of musical instruments? There are many, too many dark and austere interpretations of Hildegard's repertoire: everything to be thrown away! Hildegard wrote: “...the prophets not only wrote psalms and songs, but also used various musical instruments in a melodious accompaniment to the songs .“ Furthermore, returning to our times, just raise your eyes towards the frescoed vaults of medieval churches to find angels playing musical instruments of all sorts, and I'm not talking about the usual “vielle“ that have monopolized the scene in the last 20 years and seem be the only instrument tolerated by the new interpretative taste of medieval music, I'm talking about DRUMS! HURDY-GURDY! FLUTES! In this wonderful album created by Poul Hoxobro and Agnethe Christensen, who sadly passed away recently, a selection of compositions by Hildegard Von Bingen is presented with one of the most convincing interpretations I have ever heard. Here is a wonderful artistic proof demonstrating the fact that drums and medieval music can also be synonymous with credibility, elegance and good taste and not just “fantasy re-enactment and porchetta festival“. I wish you happy listening! Mirkò Virginio Volpe MUSICA MEDIEVALE • 1 O viriditas 2 O viridissima Virga 3 Columba aspexit 4 Viridissima Virga 5 O Euchari 6 O quam mirabilis est 7 Ave generosa 8 Caritas abundat 9 O frondens Virga 10 O nobilissima viriditas 11 O spiritui Sancto • Agnethe Christensen, alto Poul Høxbro, pipe, psaltery, tar, triangle Helen Davies, harp Ensemble CON FUOCO • Buy: • #musicamedievale #earlymusic #medievalmusic
