Hildegard of Bingen
by Honey Meconi
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Pub Date 24 Oct 2018 | Archive Date 13 Nov 2018
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Description
Honey Meconi draws on her own experience as a scholar and performer of Hildegard's music to explore the life and work of this foundational figure. Combining historical detail with musical analysis, Meconi delves into Hildegard's mastery of plainchant, her innovative musical drama, and her voluminous writings. Hildegard's distinctive musical style still excites modern listeners through wide-ranging, sinuous melodies set to her own evocative poetry. Together with her passionate religious texts, her music reveals a holistic understanding of the medieval world still relevant to today's readers.
Advance Praise
"With her friendly, calm voice and measured pace, the
author takes the reader on an interesting journey through the highlights of
Hildegard's life and work. Meconi constructs a vividly imagined persona and
life story that brings the medieval figure close to the modern reader."--Marianne
Pfau, author of Hildegard von Bingen: Der Klang des Himmels(with
Stefan Morent, co-author)
"If you think you already knew Hildegard, prepare to be enlightened. Honey
Meconi’s extensive scholarship puts Hildegard’s life, music, and writings into
clear historical context, concisely and blessedly free of academic jargon.
Meconi doesn’t just repeat what we know about the twelfth-century wonder woman.
She describes how we know it, separates truth from fiction, and makes us
understand why the music of Hildegard sounds like nothing and nobody else. With
a detailed list of works, bibliography, notes and selected discography, this is
the perfect go-to volume for a music director, teacher, student, singer, music
lover, or Hildegard fan."--Susan Hellauer, Anonymous 4
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780252083679 |
| PRICE | US$21.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 176 |
Links
Featured Reviews
Critter B, Librarian
The more that is written about Hildegard von Bingen, the better! She was an amazing person, a composer, a poet, a performer, a dramatist, a visionary, a theologian, cosmologist, spiritual leader, preacher, philosopher, political advisor, naturalist, linguist, teacher, healer, writer and more.
Brigitt A, Educator
This is a brief biography to introduce this famous German nun to a wider audience. In 9 chapters the author introduces Hildegards astonishing life followed by an introduction of all her written works. At the end of the book is a more detailed description of her musical works. It is a short easy read for everyone who would like to know more about this fabulous, visionary nun.
Reviewer 492564
Honey Meconi's book is a nice introduction to the life and work of 12th century nun Hildegard of Bingen. In the book's first half, Meconi provides an accessible and well-written biography of Hildegard, drawing on the latest scholarship. In the second, she offers a more in-depth account of HIldegard's musical works. This second section assumes some musical literacy, but not specialist specialist knowledge. Hildegard of Bingen is suitable and will appeal to general audiences and serve as a solid foundation on Hildegard for undergraduate students.
Lindsay G, Reviewer
Well researched I love Hildegard of Bingen. I've always had a soft spot for medieval mystics, but Hildegard especially. This dive into her life by Honey Meconi might not have the drama of Hildegard's visions, but it's the perfect primer for getting to know Hildegard.
If you want to start from the beginning, I would recommend this quick read on the mystic's life. If you're looking for more in-depth dives into Hildegard's visions, there are other books that will serve you better.
One thing I found interesting though with Meconi's version was that there was a focus on Hildegard's music. That's something you rarely see elsewhere and that alone made the read worthwhile.
January G, Reviewer
A lovely journey. Exhaustively researched and easy to read. I had never heard of her before and it was wonderful to learn about her. What an interesting woman!
Lauralee J, Reviewer
Hildegard of Bingen is one of my favorite historical figures. She was an accomplished writer, musician, and physician. This biography was short but detailed and comprehensive. I recommend this for those who do not know much about her.
Mandy J, Reviewer
This thoroughly researched and detailed exploration of the life and work of Hildegard of Bingen is academic scholarship at its best but for the general reader, someone like me, perhaps a little inaccessible. It examines the music in such depth that much of it went over my head, and, more to the point perhaps, was of little relevance. This was not a fault of the book, which is an excellent one, I feel, but I was not the target audience, although I appreciated leaning more about the life. A book for serious music lovers, musicologists, teachers and students, and a valuable contribution to Hildegard scholarship.
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