It got me thinking to check out a presentation
from BBC on Hildegard von Bingen which I did.

Keep 'em coming.

I think I'll start it now to see what it's about....

Title Hildegard von Bingen, in portrait [videorecording].
Publisher [England] : Opus Arte, c2003.
Description 2 videodiscs (250 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.

book jacket
Permanent link to this record
Location Call No. Status
Appleton DVD 282.092 Hil DUE 03-15-06

Included title In portrait
Contents Ordo virtutum (70 min.) -- Hidegard : dramatised BBC Omnibus biographical documentary starring Patricia Rouledge (55 min.) -- A real mystic : interview and lecture with Matthew Fox and Mary Grabowsky (45 min.) -- A source of inspiration : The Washington National Cathedral presents a documentary about the life and times of Hildegard (50 min.) -- Illuminations : art gallery of Hildegard's mystic visions, with comment by Matthew Fox (30 min.).
Credits Producer, Hans Petri; director, Ferenc van Damme.
Notes Title from container.
Aspect ratio: 16:9; 4:3 (A source of inspiration).
Program notes in English, French and German, and text of Ordo vitutum with English translation in container.
Language note Sung in Latin; subtitles in English, Spanish and Japanese; documentary narration in English.
Technical details DVD-9; soundtracks in Dolby digital 5.1, Dolby digital stereo.
Subject Hildegard, Saint, 1098-1179.
Liturgical dramas.
Gregorian chants.
Moralities -- Musical settings.
Additional authors Boothroyd, Ansy, Performer.
Hancorn, John, Performer.
Adams, Piers, Performer.
Devine, Steven, Performer.
Fields, Michael, Performer.
Tubb, Evelyn, Performer.
Routledge, Patricia.
Ford-Grabowsky, Mary.
Fox, Matthew, 1940-
Petri, Hans.
Damme, Ferenc van.
Hildegard, Saint, 1098-1179. Ordo virtutum.
Corporate authors Vox Animae (Musical group) Performer.
Mayfield Chamber Opera Chorus, Performer.
Washington National Cathedral (Washington, D.C.) Performer.
Opus Arte (Firm)
Publisher number OA 0875 D Opus Arte

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The second disc which runs about 45 minutes is a dramatised
biography of Hildegard and how she founded her own convent.

I don't get to see much live theatre these days and the
live theatre I do see down at the local Performing Arts
Center tends to be in the form of Broadway musicals heading
for Palookaville or the movies: case in point: "Rent" and
"Annie".

As performance I found the Morality Play whose name is in the
notes in the previous post very well done. I could make some jokes
about it but I'll lay off of that. In style, choreography and
camerawork it captured more than the average feature film.
In theme the morality play is about going astray and redemption.

The thought that ran through my head while watching and listening
to this was: I should see Kenneth Clark's "Civilization"
again.

For those who have never seen this BBC series from the early
70's, it begins where the Hildegard piece leaves off.
Kenneth Clark as art historian visits the great cathedrals
and art of antiquity up through the beginning of the
20th Century. I had the opportunity of first seeing the
series at a university showing on the theatre screen.
Then only recently did I see it again this time on a
televison sized screen. The difference was quite extraordinary
for me. In the theatrical presentation one had the feeling
pf actually being in the spaces and hearing the musics.

If your library has this collection, it has my highest
recommendation.

As a music style, the plain chant of Hildegard is more ethereal
than the Bulgarian Women's choir which is still my personal
favorite.

The last thing that comes to mind in listening the the Hildegard
was the thought that I should be reading "Loves Body" by
Norman O. Brown again. "Loves Body" is not about tantric
yoga or some other tripe: what it is is an analysis of
literature from the perspective of Freudian psychology. LB
was a pop culture book in the early 70's but for me it is one
of the great books.

What the really good music does is evoke these kinds of things
that we forget in our every day lives.