Feather on the Breath of God

CD Details

Abbess Hildegard of Bingen composed liturgical sequences and hymns in the twelfth century, and this 1986 recording presents her sacred music performed by soprano Emma Kirkby and the ensemble Gothic Voices under director Christopher Page. The program features plainchant settings including “Columba Aspexit,” “Ave Generosa,” “O Ignis Spiritus,” “O Viridissima Virga,” and “O Ierusalem,” among others. Gothic Voices approaches these works with a meditative quality, employing alternating soloists and unison choir over drone or unaccompanied voices to illuminate Hildegard’s poetic texts and melodies with clarity and restraint.

This is a single CD released on the Hyperion label, running approximately thirty-five minutes. The recording showcases Kirkby’s luminous soprano voice alongside other accomplished singers, presenting Hildegard’s extraordinary compositions in a straightforward, contemplative manner that allows the melodies to resonate clearly. Acquire this influential medieval music recording on CD at a used price.