Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179)
Antiphona: O Orzchis Ecclesia / Psalmus 94 Ad invitatorium: Venite, exultemus
Domino [5.48]
Antiphona: O coruscans lux / Psalmus 10: In Domino confide [7.27]
Antiphona: O pulchrae facies / Psalmus 1: Beatus Vir [6.32]
Antiphona: Nunc Gaudeant / Psalmus 86: Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis
[5.14]
Versiculum: Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis [1.26]
Benedictio/Lectio: De Libro divinorum operum [5.53]
Responsorium: Noblissima viriditas [5.13]
Benedictio/Lectio: De Libro divinorum operum [4.52]
Responsorium: O vos imitators excelsae personae [4.06]
Benedictio/Lectio: De Libro divinorum operum [4.53]
Responsorium: O felix anima [5.37]
Oratio: Deus, qui beatam Hildegardem Virginem tuam [1.07]
Barbara Zanichelli (soprano)
Ensemble San Felice/Federico Bardazzi
rec. October 2007, Church of San Zanobi, Casignano
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 94273 [58.15]
Hildegard of Bingen's last work, Liber divinorum operum, is subdivided
into ten visions, starting with a prologue and ending with an epilogue. Parts
of this were divided into three letters for the service Notturno del Mattutino
del Commune delle Vergine. On this disc the service has been recreated
by soprano Barbara Zanichelli, Ensemble San Felice and Federico Bardazzi.
Hildegard's music on disc has tended to be presented in recital form, rather
divorced from its liturgical context. But she wrote her pieces in the context
of the church's liturgy.
On this disc we get a whole set of Hildegard's music assembled into a coherent
service, three psalms with their antiphons, followed by the three readings
from Liber divinorum operum each followed by a responsorium with a
final prayer.
Though the performers include a small choir of female voices, a gothic harp,
vielle and portative organ, the performance style is in fact quite austere.
It is thought that Hildegard may have used instruments in services even though
frowned upon by the authorities. Here the instruments are used quite discreetly
with the voices generally unaccompanied. The results are resolutely austere
in texture, but seductive in their shapeliness and melodic outline.
Soprano Barbara Zanichelli has the majority of the work, with the chorus providing
unassertive drones as well as singing the Psalm chants. She has an attractive,
tightly focused voice with good flexibility. I am not quite sure that she
makes enough of the words. After all, Hildegard's pieces are about the words
and the music: the words relate to her visions and are profoundly important.
There is a tendency to appreciate this music for its austere, haunting beauty
and forget the startling nature of her vision.
The booklet talks about seeing the two sides of Hildegard. I don't think that
any of the recordings issued, not even Gothic Voices' A feather on the
breath of God, quite evokes Hildegard's indomitable personality and quite
terrifying visions.
The CD booklet includes an extensive article, written in rather flowery language.
There is also a CD-ROM which includes a PDF of the CD booklet plus a PDF of
texts and translations. Unfortunately the translations are only into Italian,
which seems short-sighted.
This disc makes a good introduction to Hildegard’s music if you are interested
in her as a writer of liturgical pieces. The performances are firmly anchored
into the sound of early plainchant. It is let down only by the fact that you
need Italian to follow the translations of the texts.
Robert Hugill
This disc makes a good introduction to Hildegard’s music.