Customer Reviews

Hildegard of Bingen and Her Vision of the Feminine

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The extraordinary life of 12th century German nun Hildegard of Bingen, virtually unknown until recently, is presented by Nancy Fierro with clarity and a sense of expansive generosity. Hildegard was a gifted woman, a nulti-dimentional artist, whose mystical visions became manifest in a vast body of work that encompassed music, writing, medicine, art, and spiritual leadership. Fierro, whose research into Hildegard's legacy has obviously been extensive and detailed, invites the contemporary listener to not only learn intriguing details about this amazing visionary, but more significantly, to be magnetized to that field of ongoing contemplative insight which was Hildegard's true home. Colorful, inspired, and decisive, Fierro's fluid, engaging presentation reflects both scholarship and a vibrant reverence for her subject. For those seeking a comprehensive overview of the life of Hildegard of Bingen, this is an excellent resource.

I recently purchased this tape in the hopes in increasing my knowledge of women leaders and role models, especially from medieval and renaissance times. The tape is excellent. Fierro's grasp of Hildegard's life is inspiring. She weaves the story of Hildegard's life as a woman religious and a woman searching for creative and spiritual development in a world that would just as soon she didn't exist. In my search for materials on Hildegard, including a trip to Bingen, I found numerous books on her life and vast array of talents, most in German, unfortunately, and very few that focus on her music. Fierro's tape provides a wonderful bridge from the scholarly world to everyday life. Her voice resonated through my car speakers as did the beautiful and haunting flute music based on Hildegard's writings. I would recommend this tape to everyone interested in learning about Hildegard of Bingen, especially those who are time stressed. My only complaint about the tape would be that it wasn't long enough, but I suppose Part II is being worked on as we speak. Great tape!!!

I have practically worn out this tape listening to it over an over again. It gave me a great deal of information about Hildegard and made me hungry to know more about this medieval phenomenon. I like the way the author presents what could be very complex material in an easy and understandable way. Her voice is unobtrusive and lets me concentrate on the content. Flute interludes put me in a relaxed state of mind. I would without question recommend this tape to anyone who wants a basic introduction to Hildegard, and her world.