Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), German composer, abbess, mystic, and writer, noted for her lyrical poetry and devotional songs. Born in Böckelheim, Germany, Hildegard was placed by her noble parents in the care of a community of nuns at Disibodenberg, near Bingen, Germany, at the age of eight. She became superior of this community in 1136 and went on to found monastic orders in Rupertsberg and Eibingen. Intense visions led her to record her experiences in a book, Scivias, that, beginning in 1141, she took ten years to write and which established her fame throughout Europe.

Hildegard collected her poetic and musical works in Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum (The Symphony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations) in the early 1150s; this collection survives in two manuscript sources. Her devotional songs consist of hymns and chants. Many are conceived on a large scale and all are highly individual in style, drawing little from plainsong, the traditional style of liturgical chanting of the Roman Catholic Church. Hildegard’s songs often explore a broad vocal range, reflecting the intense imagery of her poetry. Her musical composition Ordo Virtutum (written before 1158) contains 82 melodies and is one of the earliest known examples of a morality play—a musical story depicting the battle between good and evil. In addition to music, Hildegard wrote authoritative works on natural history and medicine. Consulted as a prophetess by emperors, monarchs, religious leaders, and lay people, she became involved in politics and diplomacy. After her death, Hildegard was proposed for sainthood, and although the Catholic Church never canonized her, she is sometimes still referred to as Saint Hildegard.