Hildegard: Ordo Virtutum

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Ordo Virtutum
Sequentia - Benjamin Bagby & Barbara Thornton, dirs
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (BMG) 05472 77394 2 [CDx2]
Musical Heritage Society 525505X [CDx2]

Contents:

    Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum

    CD-1

    Ordo Virtutum
  1. Prologue: Qui sunt hi, qui ut nubes?
  2. Processional of embodied souls (instr.)
  3. Scene 1: O nos peregrine sumus
  4. Anima processional (instr.)
  5. Scene 1 (cont'd): O dulcis divinitas
  6. Anima processional (instr.)
  7. Scene 1 (cont'd): O gravis labor
  8. Instrumental dance
  9. Scene 2: Ego Humilitas
  10. Instrumental dance

    11. CD-2

    Interlude
  11. Symphonia: O quam magnum miraculum
  12. Symphonia: O felix anima
  13. Symphonia: O quam mirabilis

    14. Ordo Virtutum
  14. Instrumental lament
  15. Scene 3: Heu! Heu! Nos virtutes plangamus
  16. Scene 4: Que es aut unde venis?
  17. Finale: In principio

Sources (text editions):
Peter Dronke (Cambridge), copyright 1997

Source (music):
[1]-[10], [15]-[17] Rupertsberger "Riesencodex" (1180-1190), Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 2, fol. 478vb-481vb
[11] Rupertsberger "Riesencodex" (1180-1190), Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 2, fol. 467rb-va
[12] Rupertsberger "Riesencodex" (1180-1190), Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 2, fol. 4470vb
[13] Rupertsberger "Riesencodex" (1180-1190), Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 2, fol. 466rb-va
[14] Realization: Elizabeth Gaver

Playing time: 51' 09" + 40' 52" = 1h 32' 01"

Performers:
Sequentia, Ensemble für Musik des Mittelalters
Sequentia women's vocal ensemble (Vox Feminae): Rebecca Bain (voice: Caritas, Innocentia, Verecundia), Pamela Dellal (voice: Felix Anima, Infelix Anima), Suzanne Ehly (voice: Spes, Amor Celestis), Ellen Hargis (voice: Scientia Dei), Maria Jonas (voice: Timor Dei), Lydia Heather Knutson (voice: Victoria), Nancy Mayer (voice: Fides, Disciplina, Patientia), Lena Susanne Norin (voice: Humilitas), Barbara Thornton (voice: Contemptus Mundi), Janet Youngdahl (voice: Obedientia, Misericordia) - Barbara Thornton, dir.
Franz-Josef Heumannskämper (Diabolus)
Sequentia men's vocal ensemble (Sons of Thunder): Patriarchs and Prophets: John Fleagle (voice), Stephen Grant (voice), Paul Guttry (voice), William Hite (voice), Frank Kelley (voice), Mark McSweeney (voice), Eric Mentzel (voice) - Benjamin Bagby, dir.
Sequentia instrumental ensemble: Elizabeth Gaver (direction, medieval fiddle), Rachel Evans (medieval fiddle. Robet Mealy (medieval fiddle), Norbert Rodenkirchen (medieval flute), Benjamin Bagby (organistrum).

Recording site and date:
Basilica of Knechtsteden, Germany [06-07/1998];
Rel.: 1998

This is a new recording. Sequentia's older recording:

Hildegard: Ordo Virtutum
Sequentia
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77051 (2 CDs)

Another dramatic German cycle by the present ensemble:

Bordesholmer Marienklage
Sequentia
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77280 (2 CDs)

Reviewed in:
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.): 76/904-74 (august 1998)
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 22/1-208 (sept./oct. 1998)

Supplementary information from Sergey Lebedev: All instrumental music was composed in medieval style by Elizabeth Gaver; polyphonic arrangements are by Barbara Thornton. The "Interlude" is not a part of Hildegard's original play, but rather some other material (from Symphoniae harmoniae revelationum caelestium) the performers have added from the same manuscript.

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Pierre-F. Roberge