"Ordo Virtutum" Morality Play - Hildegard von Bingen
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Seraphic Fire Ensemble conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley.
I - Introit for the Dedication of a Church. Terribilis est locus iste: 0:00
II - Prologue: 2:16
III - Part I. The Soul Invokes the Virtues: 7:34
IV - Part II. Enter the Devil: 16:01
V - Part III. The Soul Returns: 43:04
VI - Part IV. The Devil is Bound: 54:35
VII - Epilogue: 1:03:19
Hildegard von Bingen's "Ordo Virtutum" (Latin for "Order of the Virtues") was finished in 1151, after the relocation of her Abbey from Disibodenbe to Rupertsberg. It is the earliest morality play by more than a century, and the only medieval musical drama to survive with an attribution for both text and music. It may have been performed by the convent nuns at the dedication of the St. Rupertsberg church in 1152, or possibly before the Mass for the Consecration of Virgins at the convent.
The subject of the play is about the struggle for a human soul, or Anima, between the Virtues and the Devil. The central characters are seventeen personified virtues: Knowledge of God, Humility, Charity, Fear of God, Obedience, Faith, Hope, Chastity, Innocence, World Rejection, Heavenly Love, Shamefastness (Modesty), Mercy, Victory, Discretion, Patience, and one unnamed Virtue usually dubbed “Discipline” by modern scholars. To this are added Anima (the Soul), several “embodied souls,” Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Devil. It is written in dramatic verse and contains 82 different melodies, which are set more syllabically than Hildegard's liturgical songs. All parts are sung in plainchant except that of the Devil. There is an alternation between solo and chorus parts as well as melismatic versus syllabic lines.
Ordo virtutum appears in its manuscript sources without any designation of scenes, although modern performers and editors usually divide the work into several sections. After the short opening exchange between the Patriarchs and Prophets (representing the Old Testament) and the Virtues (representing the New Testament), the plot is underway with the lament of embodied souls followed by Anima’s happy invocation of the Virtues. But her contentment soon turns to a desire to enjoy the world, and the Devil whisks her off to do precisely that. While she is away, the individual Virtues introduce themselves, reject the taunting of the Devil, and lament the loss of Anima. When Anima returns, saddened and penitent, she fears that the Virtues will no longer want her, but they receive her with joy. Though the Devil tries to reclaim her, she spurns him and calls the Virtues to her assistance.
The Devil is then captured, bound, and defeated. Ordo virtutum closes with prayer, praise, invocation of the natural world, and reaching out to the Almighty Father. One phrase from this concluding section, “Almighty Father, from you flowed a fountain in fiery love,” calls to mind the portrait of Hildegard that opens her illuminated Scivias manuscript, where flames of divine inspiration wash over Hildegard herself. The final verses of the play move into a mystical mode and describe the crucifixion of Christ, asking the audience to bend their knees so that God may "stretch out his hand to you" (genua vestra ad patrem vestrum flectite / ut vobis manum suam porrigat). The final word, porrigat ("stretch out"), is set to thirty-nine notes, making it the longest melisma in the play. It is meant to illustrate the stretch of a divine hand toward humanity.
To check the libretto and lyrics: tinyurl.com/2359ttn6
Picture: "St. Theobald exorcises a possessed man", altarpiece of the Church of St. Thibault in Burgundy, France (c.XIV century).
Sources: tinyurl.com/2359ttn6 and tinyurl.com/29w66b26
To check the score: tinyurl.com/27s9x2qx - เพลง
Compelling and beautiful rendition by the singers and conductor of this captivating work. The notes are very helpful !
It is great that you share knowledge about Hildegard von Bingen and present "Ordo Virtutum"! Now I know! Thank you!!!
Thank you for your continued support and your comments
beautifull
I love this work so much and I admit the devil´s shouting takes me by surprise every single time i hear it...hahaha
Can you tell me if there are some plays like peer gynt fully orchestrated? I'm really obsessed with this kind of pieces!
I think there are a few, but hardly at the level of Peer Gynt. Unfortunately right now I don't remember any with the exception of Elgar's "Starlight Express".
I will give it a look, thanks!
@maurisioilcursato Vaughan Williams' The Wasps, Bizet's L'arlésienne, Schmitt's Antoine and Cleopatra and Sibelius' Pelleas et Melisande are all great!
@leonlinton634 Thanks!