Hildegard von Bingen: Canticles of Ecstasy

Hildegard of Bingen (Composer), Cologne Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music (Performer), Benjamin Bagby (Performer), Barbara Thornton (Performer), Elizabeth Glen (Performer), Gundula Anders (Performer), Heather Knuston (Performer), Heather Knutson (Performer), Janet Youngdahl (Performer), Laurie Monahan (Performer), Lena Susanne Norin (Performer), Pamela Dellal (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Cologne Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music, Benjamin Bagby, Barbara Thornton, Elizabeth Glen, Gundula Anders, et al.
• Composer: Hildegard of Bingen
• Audio CD (December 13, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000001TYF
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,127 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( H ) > Hildegard of Bingen
  #10 in	Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Oratorios
  #12 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Vocal & Song

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Although Hildegard von Bingen's music has been around for 900 years--and recordings of her music for decades--it seems that only now, as we approach the turn of another millennium, the time is right for the world to pay attention. In this first-rate traversal of her music--the most popular of several volumes released by the early-music ensemble Sequentia--we hear music that resulted from Hildegard's legendary visions, which often included song texts that she subsequently collected and dispensed to her religious community of women. As rendered here by the voices and instruments of Sequentia, her music invokes an unobscured sense of mystery, conforming to Hildegard's belief that music was our bridge to the harmonies of the heavens. Whether or not we're experiencing that "heavenly harmony" here, the simple, direct, beautifully turned melodies, sung by pure, finely tuned, warm-colored women's voices, often eerily accompanied by an instrumental drone, is heavenly enough. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding recording of an amazing woman's music, May 19, 2000

By	NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The more I study Hildegard of Bingen, the more I am amazed at not only the depth of knowledge that she had in many fields, but I am continually struck by the talent she had for expressing this knowledge in beautiful ways. She wrote a wonderful book chronicling her visions called the Scivias. She was an able visual artist. She was a healer who was more successful than many doctors of her time. Most significantly (at least in this review) she wrote music that was revolutionary in her time and is still beautiful today. The Canticles of Ecstasy is a wonderful starting point from which to begin listening to her music. Sequentia has captured the spirit of her writing and the majesty of her sound. Hildegard was an amazing woman. This is an outstanding recording. I recommend it.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music of the Divine., May 7, 2000

By	Mike Powers "mkp51" (Boothbay, ME United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

The first time I heard this extraordinary CD it, it left me speechless. Sequentia, accompanied only by a medieval fiddle and harp, sing the deeply spiritual music of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) with an almost unfathomable spiritual depth. This is music of the divine; it never fails to draw me closer to God. It's the best CD for quiet meditation I've ever experienced.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canticles is Essential Hildegard: Godlike and Glorious, July 29, 2005

By	Robert E. Murena Jr. "tedmurena" (Fairfield, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album of Hildegard's music is ethereal sublime and glorious in its composition and execution. If you have never heard (or heard of) Hildegard von Bingen let it suffice to say that her music, while of spiritual nature was an essential step in the development of western music and I rank her in the top ten important composers of the last millennium. If you have heard Hildegard then you will be amazed by the quality of the recording. Canticles of Ecstasy is very clean and richly recorded and is among the finest recordings of Hildegard's music.

Naturally the tone of this music is very meditative and is relaxing yet uplifting. This makes excellent music to listen to in the morning while reading or when you want to be peaceful. That being said it isn't simple ambience and an attentive listen will reveal how Hildegard's orchestrations of the voice shift and create harmonies that one could easily call "magical". I recommend this CD to the fan of Hildegard von Bingen as well as a starting point to exploring her music. Further I recommend this one highly to anyone just wishing to expand their musical horizons. Fans of early music and classical, along with fans of music like Aphex Twin or Autechre will certainly appreciate this CD. - Enjoy

- Ted Murena