Customer Reviews

900 Years - Hildegard von Bingen / Sequentia

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When my daughter was born about a year ago I initiated the project of collecting some of the "better music" for her, fearing that if she was only exposed to my preferred music she'd end up being a bass player in a biker band someday. I started with the Mozart piano concertos, then went to lots of Bach and other Baroque masterpieces, even ventured into some Wendy Carlos, with her "Turned On Bach." I cringe to think how much I've spent in the last year, although I must say that the investment has been worth every penny. We actually have neighbors occasionally knocking on our door wanting to know what the music is which we are playing. It seems there is an untapped market for higher music. Well, suffice it to say that I was linked to this "900 Years" set from some other CD which I was contemplating and for some reason I was tantilized, without really knowing exactly what to expect.

This music is divine, total heaven on plastic. It is prolonged euphoria. The ambience is so pervasive that it just seizes you, totally centers your focus, lifts your imagination. Without degenerating into too many additional cliches, let me just suggest that this music gives me a tremendous sense of well-being, a feeling which seems to be more elusive to me as the years go by.

I've only played it through two times in the past month since I received it, as it is quite lengthy and I don't want to desensitize myself to it. I listen to it in the morning when I'm first waking up. It brings me blissfully out of the twilight of my dreams into the vast possibilities for a new day. If one doesn't listen closely a superficial criticism may emerge that the CD's all sound similar. Play them again when you can focus more on the music and this concern will disappear. I will mention as well that if you don't have a one year old running your household, as I do, this music will be absolutely perfect for you and your favored one to listen to in front of the fireplace.

I don't have a sufficient command of the lexicon of this type of music to properly describe it to you: what comes to mind are floating feminine voices, clear resonant stringed instruments, it does indeed seems like the music of a thousand years ago, a thousand years from now. This is the music of eternity. I haven't yet read the substantive brochures which are enclosed respectively in each of the "jewel" cases, I'm afraid they may alter my interpretation of the music. If you're into that type of thing, however, I will mention that this is the best "packaged" box set I've yet purchased (of probably around 100). Each CD box has an outrageously beautiful piece of medieval art on it which perfectly compliments the music.

My daughter? She likes it, even she seems meditative when it plays. I envision it activating all types of neurological pathways in her adorable little head. I shall concede, however, that she is still cuter when she is dancing playfully to Metallica.

This is a wonderful collection of CDs. The early music includes plain song, male and female chant, and instrumental pieces. The package is gorgeous with Bizantine fresco art work on each jewel case. For those contemplating purchase, the group is composed of previous releases: Canticles of Estacy, Voice of Blood, O Jerusalem, Symphoniae, Ordo Virtutum, and Saints. These total $117.28 if you buy them individually so there is a real savings here. Those who are new to early music are in for a treat. This is music so old it is new, and as has been said, could be music of 900 years into the future. It is so other worldly, you are easily put into a meditative state. There is enough music here to fill your whole day with ecstasy.

I have to echo what the first writter said when they said and I quote: This music is divine, total heaven on plastic. It is prolonged euphoria. The ambience is so pervasive that it just seizes you, totally centers your focus, lifts your imagination. Without degenerating into too many additional cliches, let me just suggest that this music gives me a tremendous sense of well-being, a feeling which seems to be more elusive to me as the years go by. End of quote.

Simply beautiful, and heavenly. This takes you away and reminds you of the reverence that we need to have for God.

You can listen to this all day and not get tired.

This is a must have for those who want "quality more"

C. V.