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Mystical Medieval Magic

Pieter | Johannesburg | 08/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
This stirring spiritual album contains songs, symphonies and antiphons of Hildegard of Bingen and Birgitta of Sweden. The music is performed by Miriam Andersen, Kelly Landerkin and Marilia Vargas (vocals), Susanne Ansorg on medieval fiddle and Michael Form on recorder flute. Tracks 2,4,5,8, 9 and 12 come from Birgitta's Cantus Sonorum whilst 1,3,6,7,10, 11 and 13 are from Hildegard's Symphonia Harmoniae Caelestium Revelationum.



Of Birgitta's music, the most uplifting is the magnificent Annuntietur In Universa Terra, whilst Latuit and O Virga are more subdued Latin prayers. Iam laetaris is joyful with a more complex structure and Christe Patris Excelsi is a long piece with lovely interplay between recorder and fiddle.



My favorite amongst Hildegard's compositions is the antiphon Hodie Aparuit Nobis Clausa Porta. Other lovely songs include O Viridissima Virga with its soaring voices over the drone-like fiddle, the long and somber number O Virga Ac Diadema and the comforting Caritas Habundat In Omnia.



The album is a perfect introduction to the mystical Christian music of the middle ages. The sound has a soothing and uplifting effect on the spirit. I also recommend Monk And The Abbess: Music of Hildegard von Bingen and Meredith Monk."