Customer Reviews

Hildegard von Bingen: Heavenly Revelations

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

for someone interested in early music this is a good place to start- von bingen's visions speak to us across nine centuries.

liner notes are minimal, as is the case with most NAXOS titles, but lyrics in latin and english are provided, which is nice.

oxford camerata is amazing- many of the solo sections for female voice soar with great beauty. the choice of recording location (chapel of hertford college, oxford) adds a tiny bit of acoustic abience without being distracting.

how can you go wrong at the price?

It was a distressing surprise to find that my Oxford Companion to Music does not even contain an entry for Hildegard of Bingen. I had half-heard some broadcast discussion of her a few years back, but anything I know about her really comes from the liner notes with this disc, fortunately among the better specimens of their kind that I have encountered recently.

Hildegard was abbess of a distinctly upmarket Benedictine convent located near Bingen-am-Rhein in the early 12th century. She was clearly a formidable woman, being a seer and visionary consulted by Popes and potentates, a writer on scientific matters and a poet and composer as well. This disc contains 55 minutes or so of selections from her `Symphony of the Harmony of Divine Revelations', a collection of poems in her own highly individual and vigorous version of the Latin of the time, set to her own music. The music has a distant resemblance to the Gregorian chant, believed to have originated around the 8th century. It is all monody, though some of the numbers are accompanied by a sustained background note, originating exactly where and how I could not be sure. The music contains some flourishes that would have been out of place in the plainsong but which seem natural enough in the context of her spiritual-carnal imagery. This can be downright weird here and there. My recollection is still boggling at

Nunc sit laus Deo
In forma pulchre tonsure
Viriliter operante

`Now let there be praise to God in the form of a beautiful tonsure working in manly mode'.

There is an excerpt from her musical morality-drama the Ordo Virtutum, in which an assemblage of Virtues battle with the devil for control of a woman's soul, but most of the numbers are in praise of either the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin, or saints Eucharius and Disibod. I have not in my life so far encountered anyone named after these saints, but one of the admirable Oxford Camerata rejoices in the first name Sterence, so I suppose there may be some Eucharii and Disibods out there too. The words are given in full, with English translation, both absolute essentials as far as this music is concerned. The liner note is admirably honest in refusing to take a critical position regarding the real quality and worth of such unfamiliar stuff, and I propose to follow its example. I bought this disc for curiosity, for my own education and out of a general wish to support the production of out-of-the-way music. Rating it in the matters where I feel competent to rate it, I am happy to report that the singing is of the highest order of professionalism, exactly what one has come to expect from any Summerly production, and that the recording is admirable too.

The music in this CD is simply outstanding! I was very surpised when I bought this CD and discovered that it surpasses many other more "colourful" recordings of Hildegard's music (regardless of the price.)

For those who are not interested in aesthetic, artistic or musical merit but who are simply looking for "relaxing" music for contemplation, meditation etc, I am very pleased to say that this is probably the most relaxing and peaceful music I've ever heard (and I've tried many.) Its healing effect on my mind and nervous system is almost instant and that in a very balanced and harmonious way.

Highly higly highly recommended.

I wanted to try Hildegard's music after all the hype I had read about it, and the original release of this CD seemed a perfect place to start without spending too much on something I might find I don't like. But I was hooked from the start. There are no distracting instruments and the use of male voices for some pieces and female for others offers a bit of variety. Summerly concentrates on the sound of the music rather than the meaning of the words and I think this works perfectly. Hildegard more than any other composer of chant knew how to use sound to focus the minds of her nuns where she felt it should be: on the power and glory of God and the ecstasy they should feel in serving Him. However, if you want a copy with the lyrics and translations you definitely need to find the original release. I have posted a scan of the cover from my own copy to help you find it.

Hildegard von Bingen: Heavenly Revelations is just that. Heavenly. The voices blend beautifully. If you enjoy her music or any spiritual music, this CD will not disappoint you. It is perfect at Christmas or really anytime of the year. Although considered spiritual or choir music, her music does not have to be played as such. It can be played at the end of a stressful day and as a yoga instructor, I have even played her music during my classes, especially during Savasana.

Hildegard Von Bingen: Heavenly Revelations is a 1993 Naxos under the direction of Jeremy Symmerly who leads the Heavenly Revelations. Music notes and translations by Nick Flower. Being a devout person this person speaks both to heart and the soul. Highly recommended. 5/5.

I always read the customer review for information about amazon items. One review states the following "liner notes are minimal, as is the case with most NAXOS titles, but lyrics in latin and english are provided, which is nice."
This is not true. There are no lyrics. I've checked every cd for some type of txt or pdf file, therefore I think that reviews of other titles should not be copied verbatim to describe similar items from the same vendor. This was not an amazon item, it was sold by The Classical Music Superstore.

I bought this album to explore more tracks by Hildegard after listening to one of her songs on an anthology. This music crosses centuries, languages, and religions, I feel. I am not a Christian, and the reason I listen to Georgian Chant is to study, because it focuses my thoughts exponentially. It completely drowns out the noise of the world and helps to gather my ideas. This did not get 5 stars because it wasn't what I was looking for. I wanted to hear tracks with a mixed gender choir but this album only goes from single male/male choir to single female/female choir, on alternating tracks.

This is still an excellent study aid and should be recommended for use as much as pencils and pens.