Happy Mary month, everyone!

I was blessed to meet Dr. Margot Fassler (former director of the Sacred Music department at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and a world-renowned expert in the person and output of Hildegard von Bingen) at a Hildegard event back in March, and was encouraged by her to support a liturgical renewal of her music. Hildegard was a Benedictine nun, and most of her music (except the Ordo Virtutum) was actually written for the Liturgy -- especially the Office.

You will find two blog posts here: one with liturgical and historical background for her music, and concluding with 7 of her Marian chants newly set into chant notation, and the other containing all the rubrical and musical resources needed for holding one's own Hildegardian Vespers according to the post-Conciliar calendar, with psalmody notated according to Gregorian tones. Enjoy!

Reclaiming the music of Hildegard von Bingen, with songs in chant notation
https://www.chantacademy.com/post/music-of-hildegard-von-bingen

Vespers for the Blessed Virgin Mary in English, with Hildegard chants
https://www.chantacademy.com/post/vespers-for-the-blessed-virgin-mary-in-english

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Also related is the International Chant Academy's upcoming online Lecture Series, Hands On with Hildegard, to be of interest. We will hear from two expert teachers about Hildegard's music.

The first lecture, by Krista Cornish Scott, co-chair of the Cincinnati Early Music Festival and director of the professional women's ensemble Heri et Hodie, will be valuable to anyone who has felt hesitant to program Hildegard’s music, whether it be in a church or choral setting, or as a solo singer.

The second lecture, by Marsja Mudde of the Center Cantus Modalis in the Netherlands, will be devoted to learning how to perform her music in an historically informed way.

There will also be an optional Practitioner's Session with Marsja the following week, for those who want to dive deeper into performance practice and the manuscripts.

Visit https://www.chantacademy.com/lecture-series for more info, and you are welcome to email me at info@chantacademy with any questions.