Ordo Virtutum
Write what you see and hear
With these words Hildegard von Bingen introduces her first great visionary writing Scivias ("Know the Ways," 1140-1150). A first, shorter version of her mystery play "Ordo Virtutum" is also found in this vision and audition context.
Here the powers of God do not appear as individual persons as in the later version, but meet the soul as a collective, as the sum of the good powers worked by God in man.
The melodies originate from the so-called Rupertsberg Giant Codex. Although they are based on Gregorian chant, they develop a characteristic independence, as can be observed in Hildegard's entire oeuvre.
For the realization, and under the guidance of the Italian choreographer Enrico Masseroli, a special gesture language was developed, based on the centuries-old tradition of monastic sign language.
Program:
Ordo Virtutum according to the version in Scivias
8 singers/performers, fiddle, harp, flute
Larger church room, space requirement minimum 6 x 6m
Performances
- Via Mediaeval (2005)
- San Diego (2001)
- Los Angeles (2001)
- Santa Monica (2001)
- Ulm (2001)
"What a marvelous concert! What an honor and a pleasure to have you all at the church!".
Pamela Rintoul, Santa Monica/Los Angeles (2001)