A woman wrote the following song a thousand years ago. The song’s name is Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans (O virtue of wisdom). Readers who are familiar with early music will recognize this sound as similar to a Gregorian chant. The composer is Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) who was a German abbess, healer, poet, composer and polymath among many titles.

A Saint Among Women

Hildegard was a remarkable woman by the draconian feminist standards of the 12^th century. At a time when women were excluded from leadership roles, she was consulted by emperors and popes. She spoke her mind on spiritual matters, boldly warning against corruption in the Church. An interdict was issued against her by the pope, but she defended herself and won in her eighties.

Hildegard wrote more surviving songs from the Middle Ages than any other composer – nearly 80 compositions in all – including Ordo Virtutum, the first known musical drama. Her music – mostly liturgical songs – differed from typical Gregorian chants with its sweeping monophonic melodies. Where Hildegard’s musical brilliance shines brightest is the sublimity of the liturgical poetry that accompanies it. For her, the chants that she composed were nothing less than a divine gift from God as she had no musical background and was largely self-taught. Each day, as she and her sisters sang the hours of prayer and psalmody during liturgical service, they participated in what she calls “the Symphony of the Harmony of the Celestial Revelations” (Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum), the title she gave to the collection of her compositions.

These compositions, along with her other writings – are gathered in a volume called Dendermonde Codex which is housed in a monastery in Belgium, largely unknown to the world until modern times. After the 800^th anniversary of Hildegard’s death in 1979, musicians curious to explore early music took an interest in her works. Thanks to Hildegard’s nuns and their allies who protected her legacy, we can still hear her music today.

Listen

A full rendition of Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans, performed by the British vocal ensemble, Armonico Consort in an album called Naked Bryd Two. Soloist: Anna Sandstrom. Conductor: Christopher Monks (2.5 mins)

Further study

The life and music of Hildegard of Bingen:

https://www.hildegard-society.org/p/music.html

More details about the Dendermonde Codex can be found here:

https://theo.kuleuven.be/apps/press/theologyresearchnews/2020/08/17/manuscripts-hildegard-von-bingens-visions-in-the-dendermonde-codex/