Hildegard Von Bingen [ENHANCED]

Garmarna

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 4, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Northside Records
• ASIN: B00005NNON
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #230,999 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #36 in

  Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

What happens when a raucous Scandinavian folk band armed with strings, acoustic guitars, and percussion rearranges the music of a 12th-century nun and updates it with modern electronic backdrops? Why, you get Garmarna's Hildegard von Bingen, a surprisingly sedate affair that marries the sacred and the secular in a truly unorthodox fashion. The band's organic and synthetic elements are on opposite ends of the aural spectrum, but--purism be damned--Garmarna makes it appealing. There are times when the beats are a little intrusive on Hildegard's striking melodies--which are beautifully sung here by singer Emma Härdelin--but they never overwhelm the music and aren't always present. Overall, this album, created and named in Hildegard von Bingen's honor, serves as a reverent tribute to her music, and it might just influence newer, younger listeners to investigate her 900-year-old repertoire. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Enigma! Recommended!!, January 5, 2002

By	Stuart Hall (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a very listenable adaptation of the chant attributed
to Hildegard of Bingen, a Christian mystic who lived mainly
in the 12th century. Her connection to God manifests itself
in the intimate wedding of the text with the complicated
plainsong chant.

This also may be one of the more accessible recordings for
modern listeners, since not only do Gamarna sing with some
instruments (from later periods) but have a backup reminiscent
of . . . Enigma. You know, guitars, drum beats, etc. I find
this recording to be a lot more listenable than Engima, though.
Whereas Enigma revels in irreverence, Gamarna seems to have a
great respect for the material.

As far as the Latin pronunciation goes (mentioned in another
review), I have to point out that this is not classical Latin
but rather medieval Latin. We actually *do* have a good idea
of the standard classical pronunciations. The other reviewer
defends Gamarna's evident Swedish accent. I also find it
pleasant, since their vowels are nice and pure. However, from
an historic standpoint, it might have been more appropriate to
sing these canticles with the "German" pronunciation (fecit=
"feh-TSEET") rather than the "Italian" Latin (fecit= "feh-CHEET")
. . . I think it might be more appropriate for 12th century
Bingen, and migh have jibed better with their accents. But still,
if you would like and introduction to v. Bingen's music, and
don't mind modernized arrangements, this is your recording!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very different garmarna, September 7, 2001

By A Customer

I love Garmarna. I got the chance to see them last fall at the World Financial Center, where they previewed songs from this album. At that time they played the songs in a more traditional Garmarna way, without the trippy elements that are on this album. My overall feeling after listening to the whole cd is that I like it, even though it is a bit of a departure from their previous work. Certain songs work better than others such as Euchari, Unde Quocompque, and Virga Ac Diadema which are fantastic. Emma's voice is beautiful as usual. The only complaint that I could make is that I was kind of hoping to hear a more Swedish version of Hildegard. I was longing to hear more violin and hurdy-gurdy. Still, Garmarna are far superior to 99% of the bands out there so I happy to hear anything from them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Innovative techno tracks and Scandinavian Latin, December 20, 2001

By	Mattias Thorslund (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I have had this CD for about half a year now (caught the Swedish release) and it's been a constant favorite along with the other Garmarna albums. Definitely, this album is more "techno" than the previous ones.

Emma's vocals soar high above and, though some have commented on her Latin intonation, this is exactly how I imagine it must have sounded in many a Scandinavian nunnery (minus techno track, and fiddles etc) in mediaeval days. Remember that nobody knows exactly how the Romans pronounced their Latin and that the intonation of every Latin speaker is heavily colored by their native language. So, in my mind, a Swedish accent rather adds to the authenticity in this case!

The techno tracks are innovative and fresh - I listen to this CD for hours on end.