Hildegard von Bingen, "O Rubor Sanguinis"

Hannah Rapp, 09/07/2009, MUS 119 Women in Music

"O Rubor Sanguinis" by Hildegard von Bingen C.1170

The instruments entirely used in this piece are the multiple voices of women. It is hard to hear the multiple vocals because the women sing in such strong unison that the song gives off the allusion of a single voice. Yet when it comes to the ending of a phrase, the echoing of the song reveals multiple voices.

This piece was memorable to me due to a few features. Firstly the strength, power and control behind the women's voices. Their angelic tone and ability to produce such a range in their voices while never blending notes demonstrates real talent. Additionally the singers of the a Capella choir sing with a wide in volume. The pieces slow tempo allows for the singers to gently build intensity in their volume without it sounding harsh or angry. While it is the recording of the singers that the listeners are focused upon, one must remember that Hildegard von Bingen was the actual voice behind the song, since it is her composition that created the graceful and proudly alternative sound of music within medieval Christian religious chants.

As said in James Briscoe's compilation, New Historical Anthology of Music by Women, Bingen's "compositions do not conform to the linguistic and musical designs of her time." Such an example of her contrasting style is her use of multiple notes for each syllable. This willingness to be the frontier in developing new musical style illustrates how women have been changing music for centuries.