What is so fascinating about some medieval nun’s songs?
Better known for her important work as a naturalist and physician, Abbess Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) also composed more than one hundred and fifty liturgical songs and melodies, which were rediscovered in the late 1970s by the ensemble Sequentia and its two directors, Barbara Thornton and Benjamin Bagby. In this sixth episode, Bagby tells us about the rediscovery of early music in the second half of the twentieth century, a movement to which he and his ensemble contributed greatly.
CREDITS
guest Benjamin Bagby, founder of Ensemble Sequentia
interview & editing Andrew Burn
production REMA
credits music
Platée, Act 1, Orage - Jean-Philippe Rameau
performed by Les Talens Lyriques, dir. Christophe Rousset
Camera Lucida 2014
All rights reserved - Courtesy of Les Talens Lyriques
design Doretta Rinaldi
original drawings Vincent Flückiger
cover score Folio, Riesencodex, 1175–1190 (Landesbibliothek Wiesbaden, BM 3600 FY 29451)
music
Instrumental dance I & II & Instrumental lament - Hildegard von Bingen
performed by Ensemble Sequentia
Ordo Virtutum, Sony 1998
Instrumental piece II - Hildegard von Bingen
performed by Ensemble Sequentia
O Jerusalem, Sony 1997
Instrumental piece II - Hildegard von Bingen
performed by Ensemble Sequentia
Geistliche Gesänge, BMG 1985
