Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum

Hildegard von Bingen (Composer), Cologne Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Cologne Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music
• Composer: Hildegard von Bingen
• Audio CD (April 7, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B0000061LW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,198 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging, evocative, January 22, 2002

By 

"dtrr" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum (Audio CD)

I was first introduced to Sequentia's Hildegard with their Canticles of Ecstacy, which entirely fits the description of meditative music. Ordo, Hildegard's first opus, is an allegory, with different voices representing the virtures. Some are melancholic, wistful; others are meditative; still other voices triumphant. It is a rich blend of beautiful voices, but one caveat to the seeker of background meditative music. In the allegory, the voice of the devil (a rasping male voice quite suitable to the allegory) bursts out in several scenes to mock and frighten the virtues. The devil cannot sing, of course, so he shouts. This will disturb the casual listener expecting nothing but soothing sounds. It is historically appropriate but not necessarily everyone's cup of tea.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A piece of pure genius, September 26, 2002

By 

Economist "Economist" (London England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum (Audio CD)

Hildegard's Ordo Virtutum is a piece of genius. When it was written in the 12th century it was centuries ahead of its time and perhaps in some respect still is. Sequentia's interpretation matches the geniality of this music. The devil's intrusions are an invention without parallel. In the medieval mind, music was heavenly, meaning that the devil could not sing and could not be presented as vocal role. Instead, the devil can only grunt and shout unable to hide his true nature when faced by the virtues. This piece is certainly nothing for background listeners of medieval music.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not stupid at all, March 11, 2005

By 

BaldJean (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum (Audio CD)

Scott Graham seems to have missed the point of the "hog calling". To put it in is not stupidity on the producer's side, it is just following the instructions of Hildegard. You can't expect the devil to have a pleasant voice, at least not according to medieval belief. This is not music you are supposed to fall asleep to. Sequentia does an excellent interpretation. Highly recommended!