By Emily Coleman
BYU''s student musicians will perform the medieval music of one of the world''s first known female composers, Hildegard von Bingen on June 9, 2006.
As a nun in the 11th and 12th centuries, von Bingen, was given to the Roman Catholic Church as a tithe, because she was the 10th child. Declared a mystic by the Catholic Church, she was inspired by her visions to write.
The Hildegard seminar students taking Honors 340R, as well as guest performer Margriet Tindemans, will perform some of von Bingen''s works on Friday, including the piece 'Ordo Vitutum,' a morality play about the struggle for a human soul between 16 personified virtues and the devil. 'Ordo Vitutum' is the only medieval musical drama to survive with attribution to the text and music.
One of the main purposes of the concert, titled 'The Music of Hildegard von Bingen,' is to expose the audience to a genre of music that isn''t often heard.
'This will be a rare opportunity, not only to hear medieval music performed idiomatically, but to hear a master musician in the genre,' said Christian Asplund, teacher of the Hildegard seminar and music co-director for the performance.
Tindemans, who is a seasoned performer of early stringed instruments, will perform many solo pieces, including the world premiere of a piece composed by Asplund.
Asplund and his wife Lara team-teach the Hildegard seminar and will also perform in the event.
' are doing a very good job, for learning this repertoire that is completely new to them in a relatively short time,' Tindemans said.
Daniel Haskin, one of the students in the Hildegard seminar, said learning the music in class has showed him how modern music connects with medieval music.
'It''s interesting to see what kind of art medieval people put into our music,' said Haskin, a freshman majoring in computer science. 'To put it shortly, kind of ''pleasing to the ear'' was completely different from ours, and that''s interesting to look at, because that''s how western music started out.'
Like Haskin, most of the students in the class are not music majors but have been very willing to try something new, Lara Asplund said.
'It''s pretty hard music to learn because there is no meter, so we really have to listen and be in tune with each other musically,' Lara Asplund said.
While the music may be different, the performers said the event would be a good opportunity to become more culturally literate.
'I think people should go if they want to look cultured,' said Allie Winegar, a sophomore from Washington. 'Because, really, what is more impressive than putting on a nice outfit and sitting around in ... listening to ancient nunnery music? And what girl doesn''t like a cultured guy?'
-'The Music of Hildegard von Bingen'
Where: Museum of Art - Lied Gallery
When: Friday, June 9, 7:30 pm
Admission: free