The superstar saint

In another post, we met Mr. Pergolesi who died at the age of twenty six and was the composer of sacred music.

This time, we meet the first composer whose biography is known; a woman, also a saint, and a superstar -- Hildegard von Bingen. Also composed sacred music.p

Saint Hildegard was a German abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, visionary and polymath. And some 800 years after her death, she also turned a pop icon.

So what type of music did she write?

She wrote chants -- monophonic compositions which always have a

The peace of Pater Noster

Theists and atheists share the commonness of belief - in God or against God. Both schools are sacred in the sense that they are committed to their thought.

It is out of such commitment that you produce good music, art and science. And as children of a certain togetherness, you are obliged to partake such hallowed creations. This is how civilisations may be built.

Pater Noster is the Lord's Prayer; a christian prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples. The rendition below gave me

An introduction to sacred music

Sacred music is an important aspect of classical music. Have a look at this exquisitely shot video of composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's, Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).

See how the camera moves over the instruments, how the singer raises her pitch without being too loud, the hands moving over the violins, the lute at the 2:45 mark, the magnificent church setting, the composure on the players' faces -- indeed there is much to absorb from this short video alone.