Listen to Martin Stacey performing Hildegardiana on 7th October 2006 at St Dominic's Priory, London NW5

Hildegardiana (1998)

Hildegardiana, two liturgical pieces, is my first work for solo organ. It was commissioned by organist Andreas Liebig for his recital in the “neue musik in der kirche” (“Contemporary Music in the Church”) festival in Kassel. The commissioner suggested connecting the work with the mystic, composer and abbess Hildegard of Bingen, celebrated at the time for her 900th jubilee. I was inspired: Hildegard’s texts and works had already become familiar and close from different connections. A message from an era and composer, for whom musical intuition and Christian liturgy were intertwined, is of utmost importance in our time. The titles refer to the Divine Office of the monastery, and to two of the daily prayers. In the morning music “Laudes”, the pleno textures of two keyboards shout praise to the Lord in sunlight, on top of the pedal based on a Gregorian alleluia melody (the practise was developed hundreds of years ago, but why shouldn’t a first-time organ composer be allowed to try to develop it to the fullest?). “Completorium” is a meditative nocturne featuring another kind of traditional organ texture: a noble-sounding solo register, soft harmony, deep pedal, with bright, birdsong-like ornaments.

Duration: 9 minutes
Available from: SULASOL
Price: £5.00