LIFE
-1098-1179
-10th child of noble parents in Rheinhesse, given to God as a tithe
-age 34 became prioress (leader of the nuns) at St. Disibod
-later established her own convent near Bingen, traveled extensively to monasteries and cathedrals to preach and teach
-visionary, poet, composer, naturalist, healer and theologian
-founded convents and corresponded with church and state leaders
-prolific writer (scientific writings ,visions, and prophecies)
-leaders of church and state from far away to come to ask her counsel
-wrote down reports of her visions Scivias
-*unusual in this era for a woman to become a leading figure with such a significant and varied career
-10th child of noble parents in Rheinhesse, given to God as a tithe
-age 34 became prioress (leader of the nuns) at St. Disibod
-later established her own convent near Bingen, traveled extensively to monasteries and cathedrals to preach and teach
-visionary, poet, composer, naturalist, healer and theologian
-founded convents and corresponded with church and state leaders
-prolific writer (scientific writings ,visions, and prophecies)
-leaders of church and state from far away to come to ask her counsel
-wrote down reports of her visions Scivias
-*unusual in this era for a woman to become a leading figure with such a significant and varied career
WORKS AND STYLE
-composed hymns based on her own Biblical texts
-composed 77 chants with lyrical melodies very differeny from traditional chant (wide leaps, flourishes and great emotion)
-used monophonic melodies with repeated melodic and rhythmic motives
-composed the first ever music play Ordo Virtutum (the Play of Virtues) to teach Christian values to an illiterate audience
-contained 82 original monophonic melodies
-used allegorical characters Humility, Hope, Charity and Discipline (the Virtues) who battle the devil
-the Devil (only male character) does not sing-Hildegard felt he was 'incapable of creating celestial harmony'
-felt music was a way of refocusing on God as human hearts tend to fall away from heaven
-composed 77 chants with lyrical melodies very differeny from traditional chant (wide leaps, flourishes and great emotion)
-used monophonic melodies with repeated melodic and rhythmic motives
-composed the first ever music play Ordo Virtutum (the Play of Virtues) to teach Christian values to an illiterate audience
-contained 82 original monophonic melodies
-used allegorical characters Humility, Hope, Charity and Discipline (the Virtues) who battle the devil
-the Devil (only male character) does not sing-Hildegard felt he was 'incapable of creating celestial harmony'
-felt music was a way of refocusing on God as human hearts tend to fall away from heaven