Choral High Mass of St Hildegard of Bingen in Philadelphia, Sept. 17

On Tuesday, September 17th, the Collegium Institute and the Durandus Institute for Sacred Liturgy & Music will hold a choral High Mass at the church of St Agatha and St James in Philadelphia for the feast of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, the renowned 12th century mystic, composer, and Doctor of the Church. An all-women’s schola will sing St. Hildegard’s own compositions throughout the liturgy, accompanied by instruments of her era. The Mass will begin at 7pm; a short talk on St. Hildegard’s music will be given before the start of Mass, and an outdoor reception will follow outside in the park. The church is located near the U. Penn. campus at 3728 Chestnut St. (Click here to RSVP for the reception, and click here to see the event page on Facebook.)

One of the four women recognized as Doctors of the Church, St Hildegard (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine nun and polymath, famous for her singular contributions to sacred music as well as artistic illumination, philosophy, prayer, and medical writing. She even constructed her own language (known as the “lingua ignota”) and is held to be “the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.”

This High Mass will be celebrated in a style familiar to Hildegard’s own medieval setting, featuring an all-women’s schola to sing her own compositions, including O Viridissima Virga, O Ignis Spiritus, and the Kyrie of the Messe de Sainte-Hildegarde, as they would have sounded from a convent of religious sisters. The singers will be accompanied by several medieval instruments known to St. Hildegard: the harp, the plucked psaltery, and the hurdy-gurdy. Just prior to the start of the Mass will be very brief remarks about the musical achievement and legacy of St. Hildegard by Christa Dalmazio (Manhattan School of Music), the choir director for this event.