by Monique Buzzarté as published in the IAWM Journal, Fall 1997, pp. 46.
1998 marks the 900th year of Hildegard von Bingen's birth (1098-1179). One of my personal goals for this year is to find ways of celebrating her. Hildegard is an inspirational figure for me, a reminder of the myriad paths creativity can take within a single individual and a promise of the creative potential that lies within each of us.
One of the ways I plan to celebrate Hildegard is by performing her music. (Not so unusual, perhaps, except that I'm a trombonist who performs almost exclusively new music.) As a way to honor and remember Hildegardand to remind myself that I, too, belong to a long tradition of women in music. I intend to incorporate something by her in each of my programs. Another way I will celebrate Hildegard is to use her music, writings, and paintings in my teaching. Hildegard's music is readily available. Numerous books and articles on her life, work and music have been published, along with many recordings and beautiful color reproductions of her painted illuminations of her visions.
I'm very curious to learn how other people are planning to mark the Hildegard year. While early music specialists and music historians bring an expertise to the study of Hildegard's life and work, I think that there is room for all of us-regardless of our field of specializationto celebrate Hildegard. Especially in 1998, which is fast approaching!
Responses
I intend to write at least another choral composition to a text of Hildegard. Also, I have a personal invitation from the Abbess at Eibingen to spend the night at the Abtei St. Hildegard.
Naomi Stephan
Hildegard von Bingen's 900th birthday will be celebrated in Göteborg, Sweden, 4-9 June 1998, with a music festival, symposium, exhibition and anthology. The main organizer is the Friends of Saint Hildegard.
Margaret Myers
The Fifth Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, March 18-21, will feature Hildegard's music on the March 20th concert. Also, a number of score submitters have sent new works that were motivated by the music of Hildegard.
Susan Wheatley
The Hildegard Chamber Players' concert series for 1997-98 is entitled "Homage to Hildegard for her 900th Birthday" and will feature either music by Hildegard or music inspired by Hildegard on each of the programs. And the Hildegard Publishing Company is publishing all 78 antiphons in eight volumes in a new edition by Marianne Pfau this year. Volumes 1-4 are currently available; the others are forthcoming. As an added incentive, we are discounting our current offerings by Hildegard, both our volumes and single octavos. Call for information: Hildegard Publishing Company, PO Box 332, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Phone: 610-649-8649. Fax: 610-649-8677. Furore Verlag (publishing house) is celebrating the 900th year of Hildegard's birth as follows: In the annual Kontrapunkt Musikkalender 1998 (annual calendar) we have published several articles concerning Hildegard plus lists of events and editions of Hildegard's music. Most articles are in German, but some are in English. The price is DM 14,80 (about $9) plus postage ($4 surface/ $8 airmail). If you are interested, I can send you an e-mail with all the events in 1998 concerning Hildegard. Furore Verlag; Naumburger Str. 40; D-34127 Kassel, Germany. Tel. 49/(0)561/897352. Fax 49/(0)561/83472. E-mail The Urban Sky Consort, a group of seven women who sing and accompany themselves on the harpsichord, gamba and recorders, will be offering two programs in 1998 in Pittsburgh, PA, to celebrate the 900th anniversary of Hildegard's birth. The first program will showcase music "in the tradition of Hildegard," starting with several of her chants, and then progressing on through the centuries by featuring other sacred music by women. The second program will juxtapose music by Hildegard with 20th-century settings of her texts. "The Greenest Branch: A Conference on the 900th Anniversary of the Birth of Hildegard of Bingen" will be held in November 1998 in Burlington, VT, sponsored by the University of Vermont, St. Michael's College and Trinity College. For information: As IAWM representative and liaison to the Hildegard Society, Nancy Fierro will attend the Hildegard Conference in Bingen, September 13-19, 1998.
Sylvia Glickman
Renate Matthei
Jo Scheier
Shyla Foster