Search - David Lynch :: Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music Of Hildegard Von Bingen

Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music Of Hildegard Von Bingen
David Lynch
Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music Of Hildegard Von Bingen
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Jazz, New Age, Pop, Rock, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

This recording of 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen's music is a sheer delight, a beautiful collection of compositions for which the Benedictine nun (considered a saint, although never formally canonized) claimed ...  more »

     
1

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: David Lynch
Title: Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music Of Hildegard Von Bingen
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: Mammoth / Pgd
Original Release Date: 8/25/1998
Release Date: 8/25/1998
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Jazz, New Age, Pop, Rock, Classical
Styles: Goth & Industrial, Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Singer-Songwriters, Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Early Music
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 035498018329

Synopsis

Amazon.com
This recording of 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen's music is a sheer delight, a beautiful collection of compositions for which the Benedictine nun (considered a saint, although never formally canonized) claimed divine inspiration. Listening to singer Jocelyn Montgomery's gorgeous renditions, that's easy to believe. Lushly produced by David Lynch, Lux Vivens has a clarity and presence of sound that does the material justice. The accompaniment itself is fairly thin, confined to sparse instrumentation and the inclusion of crashing waves, wind, tolling bells, or birdsong; this allows the beauty of the melodies themselves to shine through unimpeded. The selections include both secular ("Battle and Transition," "Et Ideo") and sacred ("Gloria Patri," "Kyrie"), though it's the melodies that capture the listener's ear. Enchanting and often otherworldly, Lux Vivens is a listening experience that's both subtle and sublime. -- Genevieve Williams

Similarly Requested CDs

 

CD Reviews

An exploration of 'Visionary'
acarnold | Pacifica, CA United States | 03/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Lynch and Jocelyn Montgomery make a creative and passionate foray into the visionary mind of Saint Hildegard von Bingen. I enjoy this album on a weekly or monthly basis because I can count on Montgomery's fairie voice and Lynch's high production standards to transport me to the era, the moment, and indeed, the emotional ecstasy von Bingen attempted to describe through the words and music of her 'Symphonia'. This album is a vehicle to a place that is both peaceful and powerful.Take track #5, 'Viridissima', my personal favorite of the album, which posits the Virgin Mary as the metaphor for fertility. This song embodies von Bingen's genius: the scales, the patterns of melody, and cyclical cadences--all technically challenging. Montgomery deftly handles the vocal acrobatics and mathematical complexity of the music. However, Montgomery also enunciates each phrase with aplomb, and sings the notes clearly and faithfully to the spirit of the music. This song, which talks about 'the whole earth made glad/because [Mary's] womb brought forth wheat' operates on many levels. It's no small feat that Montgomery and Lynch have created an album that respects the rigidity of sacred music while at the same time celebrates von Bingen's passion for God.I enjoyed the minimal accompianament of drone, viola, synth, and accordian. Those, along with the sound effects of birdsong and clashing swords, add context you can only get if you happen to have a literal translation of the latin in front of you. This album is well produced, powerful, and spiritual.I just wish the music were a precursor to a Lynch movie about the enigmatic and visionary Hildegard von Bingen. That would be the perfect nexus of two visionary souls."
One of kind CD
Bryce David | Cyberspace | 10/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD. It's so enrapturing and beautiful. Unlike the Enigma stuff, which is filled with cheesy drum beats, "Lux Vivens" is just Jocelyn's amazing voice combined with moody music and some sound effects (by David Lynch no less!). The result is absolutely brilliant. My only gripe with this CD is that there should have been more music. I never wanted the CD to end.BTW, "Lux Vivens" was made in 1998. Where's Jocelyn's follow-up CD?"
This is an extrordinary work of art!
Richard Grossman (acudoc@acudoc.com | United States | 09/01/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lux Vivins is an amazingly beautiful and powerful recording that belongs in any record collection. While listening, I was transported to a world of both earthly battles and sublime mystical emotions; a world existing in the past combined with the eternal moment of spiritual vision and experience. Others I have shared this remarkable recording with have experienced similar and even more profound feelings. The included Quicktime movie shows the deep thought and care that went into Lux Vivens, and gives an introduction to Hildegard of Bingen, a brilliant healer, artist, musician and a saint.This recording is catagorized as "New Age". However, it crosses borders and would be difficult to catagorize as New Age, Religious, or Classical. At times it is like watching a movie without a screen, so powerful is the tapestry of sound. A throughly amazing recording I listened to several times withou stopping the first evening I brought it home. Kudos to Jocelyn Montgomery on her first (hopefully of many) album."