Hildegard of bingen 1098 1179, also known as saint hildegard and sibyl of the rhine, was a writer, composer, philosopher, christian mystic, german benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath. Ordo virtutum catalog record only sacred drama in plainchant. Ordo virtutum was recorded as both a vision in scivias hildegard. A morality play deals with the persons entire life and presents mischievous characters in the form of devil and vice to challenge the soul cassady, 270. The ordo virtutum is considered a morality play because it.
It is the earliest morality play by more than a century, and the only surviving medieval musical drama with an. Hildegard of bingen, liber scivias, th vision of the 3rd part. Hildegards canonization was officially completed on may 7, 2012, and she will be. Some of the basic themes captured in ordo virtutum were later expanded in hildegards second principal theological piece, liber vitae meritorum the book of the rewards of life, c 11581163. Ordo virtutum latin for order of the virtues is an allegorical morality play, or liturgical drama, by hildegard of bingen, composed c. Virtues our duty is to fight together with you, o daughter of the king. But the troubled soul laments o what hard labor, o what a heavy weight i have in this robe of life, because it is so difficult for me to fight against the flesh. Notated music, latin, hildegard library of congress. I found two fairly interesting examples of staged productions of both. Photos, prints, drawings, software, eresources, archived web sites, web pages, 3d objects. Bishop and hart translation the voice of the multitude contains all meanings and. The ordo virtutum or play of the virtues is an allegorical play written ca. Considered the first morality play, ordo virtutum premiered in 1152, as a part of the dedication ceremony of the new abbey. This english text and translation of the play ordo virtutum by hildegard of bingen is based on a translation by peter dronke.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Not only does the ordo s expansive duration set it apart from its precursors, but also its complex imagery and nonbiblical narrative have raised various questions. Hildegard of bingen wrote ordo virtutum the play of virtues while asserting her independence, during the construction and relocation of her abbey at rupertsberg. Ordo virtutum is an allegorical morality play, or sacred music drama, by st. Humility queen of all virtues, knowledgeofgod, charity, fearofgod, obedience, faith, hope, chastity, innocence, contemptfortheworld, heavenly love, discipline, modesty, mercy, victory, discretion discretio, patience. All the text is sung except for the devil as hildegard considered him to be incapable of divine harmony. Elected a magistra by her fellow nuns in 16, she founded the monasteries of rupertsberg in 1150 and eibingen in. Jun 09, 2015 for an edition and translation of the ordo virtutum see peter dronke, ordo virtutum, the play of the virtues, by hildegard of bingen, in his nine medieval latin plays cambridge. Selected writings st hildegard of bingen internet archive. The ordo virtutum is considered a morality play because it concerns moral instruction, particularly a mans attempt to save his soul cassady, 270. The reverence for the virgin mary reflected in music shows how deeply influenced and inspired hildegard of bingen and her community were by the virgin mary and the saints.
We have performed our ordo virtutum in europe and even taiwan. Hildegard was born into a family of nobles in the service of the counts of. Rhetoric and the creation of feminist consciousness in the marian songs of hildegard of bingen 10981179. Bingensis september 16, 1098 september 17, 1179 was a german magistra, monastic leader, mystic, author, and composer of music. Hildegard of bingen 10981179 is one of the most remarkable figures of medieval latin christianity. What links here related changes upload file special pages. Ordo virtutum translation babylon translator babylon software. Her music consisted of melodic lines while her composing style was characterized by soaring melodies that were outside the normal range of. Ordo virtutum latin for order of the virtues is an allegorical morality play, or sacred music drama, by st. The meaning and emphasis of the ordo virtutum in hildegard of bingens community is. Ordo virtutum ordo virtutum text and translationbased on. Catalog record only words from hildegard of bingen and traditional doxology. Ordo virtutum 2 the happy soul oh, let me come to you gladly so that you may offer me a kiss from your heart. Hildegard s canonization was officially completed on may 7, 2012, and she will be made a doctor of the church on october 7, 2012.
Before purchasing this dvd, i recommend reading a biography of hildegard. My thesis is that the ordo virtutum and the treatise scivias were. Through the artistic creations of her music and visions, hildegard of bingen assembled an unparalleled body of original theological works. The dramatic text and vocal setting are fully notated. Further resources for o frondens virga hildegard of bingen, symphonia, ed. This is a four part dvd setone part dramatic vignette of a few scenes from hildegard s life very well acted, one part interviews with scholars of hildegard, one part interpretations of her artwork in a classroom setting, and one part performance of her ordo virtutem. Hildegard of bingen grove music oxford music online. It is the earliest morality play by more than a century, and the only medieval musical drama to survive with an attribution for both the. In this large vision cycle, hildegard reveals a mystic universe in which the history and workings of cosmic forces often take the form of allegorical figures. Virtutes o antiqui sancti, quid admiramini in nobis. This is the second new series album to feature the stuttgartbased ensemble belcanto. Where its 2001 predecessor focused on contemporary composition by wolfgang rihm and others come unombra di luna, this disc looks at hildegard of bingens ordo virtutum, written around 1150 and generally considered the first largescale musical work beyond the prescribed form of the mass liturgy. Ordo virtutum text and translation based on translation by peter dronke, 1981 and 1997 incipit ordo virtutum here begins the play of the virtues. Hildegards ordo virtutum relates the dramatic struggle between a soul, the devil and a host of allegorical virtues.
Hildegard of bingens ordo virtutum is an example of liturgical drama, considered to be one of the oldest morality plays that survived to these days. It shows the human soul, main protagonist, torn between the virtues and the devil, who wins her over for a while until she returns to the virtues. When it was written in the 12th century it was centuries ahead of its time and perhaps in some respect still is. The latest recordings are led by two versions of ordo virtutum, by. It is unsure when some of hildegard s compositions were composed, though the ordo. Though never formally canonized, hildegard has achieved an. The ordo virtutum depicted a struggle for a human soul, known as anima, between virtue and the devil. It is the earliest morality play by more than a century, and the only medieval musical drama to survive with an attribution for both the text and the music. A visionary theologian and prophetic reformer, as well as composer, artist, and natural scientist, her voice echoes across the centuries to offer today an integrated vision of the relationship between cosmos and humanity. Hildegard was born into a family of nobles in the service of the counts of sponheim, close relatives of the hohenstaufen emperors. If youve heard the name hildegard of bingen, chances are it is in connection with her music, one of the greatest successes of medieval chant a genre that has, itself, experienced a popular groundswell in last two decades. The drama of the ordo virtutum, for which hildegard composed both the lyrical latin text and the music, centers on the struggles of anima soul. But the video is graced with clearly, eloquently translated and perfectly timed subtitles. Humility queen of all virtues, knowledge of god, charity, fear of god, obedience, faith, hope, chastity, innocence, contemptfortheworld, heavenly love, discipline, modesty, mercy, victory, discretion discretio, patience.
View test prep ordo virtutum from humn 2002 at georgia regents university. The story tells about soul who, after having strived for a virtuous life, turns. One of her better known works, ordo virtutum play of the virtues, is a morality play. This english text and translation of the play ordo virtutum by hildegard of bingen is based on a translation by peter dronke characters.
Hildegard s ordo virtutum relates the dramatic struggle between a soul, the devil and a host of allegorical virtues. In portrait ordo virtutum is the ritual of the virtuesis, the oldest known european musicdrama. Hildegard of bingen s ordo virtutum the play ordo virtutum order of the virtues is an allegorical morality play, or liturgical drama, composed about 1151. Translation of ordo virtutum by ansy boothroyd and michael fields. Since sacred vocal music of the time was accompanied by instruments, it is likely that the ordo would have been as well. Des77051 hildegard of bingen ordo virturum vol 1 deutsche harmonia mundi 490 1. Hildegard of bingens ordo virtutum the play ordo virtutum order of the virtues is an allegorical morality play, or liturgical drama, composed about 1151. Hildegard of bingen canticles of ecstasy deutsche harmonia mundi 1294 sequentia excellent. She is one of the bestknown composers of sacred monophony, as well as the mostrecorded in modern history. It is the earliest morality play by more than a century, and the only surviving medieval musical drama with an attribution for both the text and the music.
English translation by medieval latin scholar justin haynes. Hildegard of bingen, scivias, translated by sister columba hart. In it i heard in a wondrous manner the various sounds of harmonies. At the beginning, this soul a type of everyman blissfully resides within the company of the virtues, yet she hears the. Sequentias interpretation matches the geniality of this music.
At the beginning, this soul a type of everyman blissfully resides within the company of the virtues, yet she hears the voice of the devil tempting her to the worlds pleasures. Oct 11, 2014 further resources for o frondens virga hildegard of bingen, symphonia, ed. In many ways, the play represents hildegard s midlife transition, and her break from many. Here hildegard writes that the sweet, soft symphony that sounds in joy to the. Des77020 hildegard of bingen symphoniae spiritual deutsche harmonia mundi 1089 sequentia pleasant and beautiful. For an edition and translation of the ordo virtutum see peter dronke, ordo virtutum, the play of the virtues, by hildegard of bingen, in his nine medieval latin plays cambridge. Hildegard of bingens ordo virtutum has come to occupy a major role among. This is a four part dvd setone part dramatic vignette of a few scenes from hildegards life very well acted, one part interviews with scholars of hildegard, one part interpretations of her artwork in a classroom setting, and one part performance of her ordo virtutem. Ordo virtutum text and translation based on translation by peter dronke, 1981 and 1997 incipit ordo virtutum here. Finally the time has come to record our own longawaited rendition.