Art History Radio continues with its month-long look into Hildegard of Bingen’s aural tapestries, and how people keep them alive.  Especially within the New Age music movement. 

Composer Richard Souther produced two albums that revolved around Hildegard of Bingen.  The first one entitled Vision: The Music of Hildegard Von Bingen and the second one known as Illumination.  The first one consists of covers of Hildegard’s songs while the second one has songs that come from Souther himself.  In comparison to other artist’s compositions featured on this blog that center largely on a soloist or choir backed by one instrument that plays a few simple notes or none at all, Souther takes a different route.  He composes elaborates melodies with more than one instrument with singers Emily Van Vera, Catherine King, and Sister Germaine Fritz.  While I have not bought the album, I am reviewing various songs found on YouTube. 

O Euchari in Leta Via

Before hearing this song, I never imagined having this urge to belly dance to a Hildegard song.  This happens after hearing the infectious thump of the doumbek (I think) that appears briefly in the beginning.  However, I feel that the background music does not mesh well with the Medieval ballad. 

O Virgo ac Diadema

However, the singers and the music gel very well with each other in this song.  Furthermore, they play off with each other very well.

Unde Quocumque

Pretty song, but a little on the bland side.  While the women have lovely voices, the background music contributes to the bland problem.   

A longer version of O Euchari in Leta Via.  It does not really stand out except for some dramatic musical cues near the end.  On the other hand, the vocals and the instrumentals feel like two different styles.  In other words, they do not mesh well.   

The Living Light

A very pretty song with excellent use of flutes, but this time, the singer takes a backseat to the instruments.  Furthermore, she makes herself heard at the end.  For me, Hildegard’s music represents the idea of the voice (or voices) praising the divine with song.  While Richard Souther does create beautiful instrumental work, I do not think he captures the work of the famed mystic all that well.  Admittedly, I have not heard all the songs from the Vision album, but the output I found on YouTube does not make me want to purchase the work for myself.  In my opinion, if one wants to fully immerse themselves into the music of the abbess, I recommend listening to the covers of Sequentia.