The Story Of Hildegard of Bingen
As musicians and artists, we love discovering stories of people who have stood aside from tradition and inspired and stimulated something ‘other’ throughout the ages. Hildegard of Bingen is such a one, and her story, as little known as it is, actually had a profound impact on art, culture, faith and music.
. . . . . . .
In the 12th century, in a world where women’s voices were often silenced, one woman rose with such brilliance, clarity, and creative force that her presence still echoes through the centuries. Her name was St. Hildegard von Bingen – a mystic, composer, writer, herbalist, and visionary who broke every mould of her time and left behind a body of work that continues to sing its truth today.
As a band travelling the world, sharing songs born of heart and spirit, we find ourselves constantly inspired by stories of people who have dared to live from a deeper source. Hildegard’s life is one such story. Her music, created in a time when few women were even taught to read or write, is unlike anything else from her era, soaring, haunting, filled with an ecstatic longing for connection with the Divine. Listening to her compositions, we are reminded of what it means to create from a place beyond the ordinary mind… to surrender, to feel, to become a vessel for something greater.
Hildegard’s visions began as a child, what she called “the Living Light”, and though she was hidden away in a monastery, her inner world was vast and alight with colour, form, and sound. Against the strict rules of the Church, she wrote what she saw and heard. She composed ethereal music that defied the musical norms of her time, and she dared to speak directly to bishops and kings with the authority of a woman who knew she was being moved by something far beyond herself.
Her courage to be seen, as a woman, as an artist, and as a channel for something sacred, is something that truly moves us. We know what it is to be on stage, offering our hearts into the world, hoping that what flows through us touches something in others. We also know the vulnerability and the power that come with being women in music, for Kymrie making her way in a world that doesn’t always understand the depth behind the song.
And so, in St. Hildegard we find an inspiring kindred spirit, someone who reminds us that music has always been a form of prayer, of healing, of fierce truth, inclusive particularly of the female voice. Her story shows us that art, when truly given, transcends time and space. It becomes a blessing that outlives us all, a ripple of beauty reaching into the future. Whether you know her name or not, Hildegard’s legacy is still unfolding. She reminds us that it’s not just about being successful or heard by the many. It’s about offering and staying true to what’s real, what’s alive. It’s about trusting that the song inside you has a place in the world.
So here’s to St. Hildegard von Bingen – visionary, rebel, saint, and to all women across time who have dared to sing and have their voices heard.
Here are some articles and links to her music and story that we found useful in discovering more about this special being.
No Comments