Customer Reviews

Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music Of Hildegard Von Bingen

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

David Lynch and Jocelyn Montgomery make a creative and passionate foray into the visionary mind of Saint Hildegard von Bingen. I enjoy this album on a weekly or monthly basis because I can count on Montgomery's fairie voice and Lynch's high production standards to transport me to the era, the moment, and indeed, the emotional ecstasy von Bingen attempted to describe through the words and music of her 'Symphonia'. This album is a vehicle to a place that is both peaceful and powerful.

Take track #5, 'Viridissima', my personal favorite of the album, which posits the Virgin Mary as the metaphor for fertility. This song embodies von Bingen's genius: the scales, the patterns of melody, and cyclical cadences--all technically challenging. Montgomery deftly handles the vocal acrobatics and mathematical complexity of the music. However, Montgomery also enunciates each phrase with aplomb, and sings the notes clearly and faithfully to the spirit of the music. This song, which talks about 'the whole earth made glad/because [Mary's] womb brought forth wheat' operates on many levels. It's no small feat that Montgomery and Lynch have created an album that respects the rigidity of sacred music while at the same time celebrates von Bingen's passion for God.

I enjoyed the minimal accompianament of drone, viola, synth, and accordian. Those, along with the sound effects of birdsong and clashing swords, add context you can only get if you happen to have a literal translation of the latin in front of you. This album is well produced, powerful, and spiritual.

I just wish the music were a precursor to a Lynch movie about the enigmatic and visionary Hildegard von Bingen. That would be the perfect nexus of two visionary souls.

I love this CD. It's so enrapturing and beautiful. Unlike the Enigma stuff, which is filled with cheesy drum beats, "Lux Vivens" is just Jocelyn's amazing voice combined with moody music and some sound effects (by David Lynch no less!). The result is absolutely brilliant. My only gripe with this CD is that there should have been more music. I never wanted the CD to end.

BTW, "Lux Vivens" was made in 1998. Where's Jocelyn's follow-up CD?

Lux Vivins is an amazingly beautiful and powerful recording that belongs in any record collection. While listening, I was transported to a world of both earthly battles and sublime mystical emotions; a world existing in the past combined with the eternal moment of spiritual vision and experience. Others I have shared this remarkable recording with have experienced similar and even more profound feelings.

The included Quicktime movie shows the deep thought and care that went into Lux Vivens, and gives an introduction to Hildegard of Bingen, a brilliant healer, artist, musician and a saint.

This recording is catagorized as "New Age". However, it crosses borders and would be difficult to catagorize as New Age, Religious, or Classical. At times it is like watching a movie without a screen, so powerful is the tapestry of sound.

A throughly amazing recording I listened to several times withou stopping the first evening I brought it home. Kudos to Jocelyn Montgomery on her first (hopefully of many) album.

I received this CD just yesterday and haven't been able to turn it off. Because it is categorized under popular music as opposed to classical, I didn't know it existed -- and Hildegard of Bingen is a favorite composer. From near silence to the thunder of hooves, this recording captures both the power and timelessness of Bingen's composition. Montgomery's voice has an endless power and she shows excellent control that delivers focused passion. I learned of this recording from author Karin Kallmaker's web site where she recommends both this recording and my other personal favorite, 11,000 Virgins by Anonymous 4. This recording is properly categorized; classical purists may not like the freedom Lynch takes with the sound effects. Still, this recording is not like Enigma or Adiemus either. It's just Montgomery's voice, minimal accompaniment, and Lynch's production touches. For this CD, less is definitely more.

This disc is an absolute pleasure. Approaching the songs with respect and restraint, David Lynch and Jocelyn Montgomery make the mystical medieval music of Hildegard von Bingen accessible to the modern ear. I find this music as wonderful when I play it as background for reading a good book or working as when I play it to listen carefully. The music inspires a feeling of reverence that is cause for celebration.

Hildegard's music is fascinating and beautiful. People have listened to these songs for centuries. Indeed, this music moves us to the depths, even though most of us do not know Latin well enough to understand the words. The lyrics are somewhat incidental, paradoxically not the most important aspect of this music that invokes one's soul on its journey to God. I wonder what it was like for people to hear this music performed for the first time, in a world that accepted the existence of God as a given. Many must have joined the Church in a thirst never to be separated from such beauty.

David Lynch's approach is to provide a restrained frame for the songs. The effect is to make them seem somewhat familiar to contemporary listeners. Lynch wisely does not try to overwhelm the music. Because he approaches Hildegaard's music with respect and restraint, the result is authentic and interesting.

The a cappella renditions of Hildegard's music by groups such as Anonymous 4 have contributed greatly to our collective rediscovery of early music. "Lux Vivens" is a worthy member of the group of recordings that are bringing this music back to us in all its glory. Although the music stands on its own, I wish that the producers had taken time to develop some liner notes. I would like to know more about each selection and to understand its context and message.

I agree that this CD could serve one well as "homework music," but I find it strangely compelling, worthy of many close listenings. It is extremely difficult to exhaust Hildegard's gifts. Each new glance seems to uncover yet another hidden diamond. Kudos to David Lynch and Jocelyn Montgomery for such fine work.

'Lux Vivens' (Living Light) is nothing less than a mystical journey into the medieval spirituality and soul of Hildegard von Bingen. Performed by Jocelyn Montgomery who possesses a voice worthy of a solo position in the heavenly choir, you will be entranced by this beautiful -15 track- CD's exploration of Hildegard's interior world.

With limited instrumentation, Jocelyn is accompanied by the sounds of nature as provided by David Lynch; gentle rain, storm and thunder and birds chirping in the trees. One track even includes the sound of charging horses and swords clashing.

A great way to unwind at the end of the day, or prepare oneself for a spiritual respite in the middle of the everyday madness.

I like, but am not a huge classical music fan- and the only name I knew on this album was David Lynch. This album gives me goosebumps from start to finish. Jocelyn Montgomery's voice is perfect, pure, and angelic. Orchestration is beautiful. Lynch's blending of guitar, accordian, inconspicuous synths, etc. is eerie and beautiful. I would guess anyone who likes soundtracks and Lisa Gerrard, Vas, etc. would enjoy this CD. The included Quicktime 'making-of' is interesting as well.

Jocelyn Montgomery has a voice like an angel. Her adaptations of Hildegard von Bingen's devotional compositions are truly inspiritional. The collection of 15 beautiful songs of praise reflect Hildegard's deep devotion to God. I could not help but to be lulled into the calm, spiritual state of mind as the original works must have evoked. The recording is well-suited to yoga, meditation, and prayer. The CD also has a bonus video and photos.

I love this CD. I first sampled it on Real Audio because I saw the name Hildegard, whom I've become interested in. The music is minimal; the focus is on the vocals. And Joceyln's voice is absolutely beautiful. It's a bit like Enya, with less orchestration. Lux Vivens is a soothing, reflective piece of brilliance and beauty.

So I'll admit that I purchased this album simply because of the fact that David Lynch(and don't forget his absolutly amazing partner is soundscape,John Neff)was involved,and also after reading the reviews here on amazon.I got EXACTLY what I expected,turned up a notch!This is the type of synth work I can honestly say doesn't sound much like synth at all,and it fits perfectly as a puzzle peice into this work.I like the two non-vocal tracks;the first(Flame and Vision) is a stupenous introduction to the music,lighting the fuse of this slow-burning masterpeice.The second would be a bit off-putting if the precise clarity of the swords wasn't as evident;one definate plus to having a film-maker with Lynch's expertise aboard to lend his fine-tuned ear.Ms. montgomery's performances of the Von Bingen classics can be summed up as subdued,yet magnificently triumphant! She is right up to par with such greats as Dawn Upshaw,Azam Ali(haven't heard that one,eh?DO NOT HESITATE to investigate this very talented new voice!),Jennifer Charles,Gigi,you name it.The manner in which she eases into uplifting(but not over-the-top)shows experience beyond her years,indeed.I cannot understand why so many "midevil"and"naturalist" individuals have refered to the album as a slap-in-the-face to their respective genre,the synths are barely existant! All I can tell you is that if I could only bring three albums to a campfire in the wilderness sitting by myself,I'd instantly choose this classic,Buckethead's "Electric Tears",and the Kronos Quartet's "Salome:Dances for Peace"(although "Black Angels" would also be tempting).