Support the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra: Sponsor A Chair! :)

I play the Horn in the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We are a small orchestra with professional level musicians; however, we also have a small budget.  As an effort to raise money for the orchestra so everyone in it could get paid, we have decided to give our fans an opportunity to sponsor a chair.  If you are interested in sponsoring a chair, please contact the symphony office at 208-765-3833, email at csosymphony@frontier.net. or donate online at http://cdasymphony.org

Hildegard von Bingen part 4: Preachings and Writings

Hildegard lead a very active life of preaching and writing as well as being a nurse-physician in the infirmary at Mount St. Dusubide. Often prolific in her writing, she would often write about the duty of seeing to it that every person has the opportunity to use the talents that God has given them and to realize their God-given potential. She would also write about social justice and freeing the downtrodden as well as writing several medical texts. She also wrote more than 72 songs, including a morality play set to music. Being one of the largest repertoires of the medieval composers, 80 of Hidegard's works have survived. Among her best known works is the Ordo Virtutum ("Order of the Virtues" or "Play of the Virtues"), a type of early oratorio for women's voices, with one male part, that of the Devil.

Unlike so many women of her time, Hildegard von Bingen was often asked by abbots and abbesses for prayers and opinions on various matters as well as traveling widely during her four preaching tours, the only woman to have done so during the Middle Ages. She also communicated with various Popes which included Anastasius IV and Eugene III as well as various emperors and statesmen. Hildegard traveled and preached throughout southern Germany, Switzerland and even Paris. Deeply moved by her sermons, people asked her to provide written copies of them for their own readings. Her use of metaphor, as well as non verbal means in communication and visual imagery helped reach out to those that were hard of hearing or totally deaf.

Hildegard von Bingen part 3: Hildegard's Visions and Writings

Hidegard was 38 years old when Jutta died, leaving her as head of the convent while living within the cramped walls of the anchorage. She later moved the community to a new monastery on the Rupertsberg at Bingen on the Rhine. Five years after her election as magistra in 1141, Hildegard received a prophetic call from God telling her to write down everything she would  observe in her visions. This vision gave her instant understanding of the meaning of the religious texts.

"And it came to pass ... when I was 42 years and 7 months old, that the heavens were opened and a blinding light of exceptional brilliance flowed through my entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart and breast like a flame, not burning but warming... and suddenly I understood of the meaning of expositions of the book"

However, feeling of inadequacy overwhelmed her as well:

"But although I heard and saw these things,because of doubt and low opinion of myself and because of diverse sayings of men, I refused for a long time a call to write, not out of stubbornness but out of humility, until weighed down by a scourge of  God, I fell onto a bed of sickness."

Hildegard von Bingen part 2: The Early Years

Hildegard von Bingen was born at Rheinhesse in Germany on September 16, 1098 to Hildebert and Mechthild von Bermersheim. They were a family of nobles in the service of the counts of Sponheim; close relatives of the Hohenstaufen emperors. Hildegard was also the youngest daughter of 10 children and was dedicated to the church at birth.  

She started to see visions of luminous objects at a very early age and continued to have these visions throughout her life; however, she kept those visions to herself with the exception of telling a couple of her instructors. At the age of 8, Hildegard was sent to a monastery in Germany called Disibodenberg to receive religious training from instructors Jutta and Volmar who found out about her visions. Jutta, the sister of Count Meinhard of Sponheim, also served as an anchoress. An anchor or anchoress was a monk or a nun who spent their lives in complete solitude devoting their lives to God through prayer,contemplation, or hand working activities.  Volmar was a St. Disibod monk who acted as prior and father confessor for the nuns

at Disibodenberg.

Artist Title Song Soundtrack Label

Hildegard von Bingen part 1

Throughout the Middle Ages, women had a life that was totally dominated by the male members of the family. They were expected to be very submissive and instantly obey not only their fathers and husbands, but other male members as well. Any kind of "disobedience" was seen as a crime against the church and domestic violence was accepted as a way of beating an  unruly girl into submission. Not only were they expected to be obedient, they were also expected to marry very young and to have large families. The exception of this life was one of a nun; who was given to a church at an early age to devote her life totally to God. One such prolific nun, writer and composer of the Middle Ages was Hildegard von Bingen who, despite the heavy patriarchal times, became very respected and well known by many.

What Influenced Music In The Middle Ages?

In the Middle Ages, the church served as an important patron to the arts and music was an integral part of Christian worship. Daily liturgy provided innumerable texts, all set to music in the style we call Gregorian chant and many composers were associated with the church. By the 12th century, the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris performed what is called organum; which is a polyphonic music that sacred music slowly developed into. Polyphonic music also began around this time with earlier examples through improvisation and singing and is a distinctive feature of Western music. Musical notation also had it's start in the 9th century and only in the cathedrals and monasteries on a regular basis due to the time consuming and and difficult process involved. Because of this,nearly all the music preserved was written for the church until the 12th century. One of the features of Western musical culture was the advent of musical notation which produced a markedly stable body of music.

 Secular music also saw the birth of the polyphonic style in the 14th century as well as the rise of Courtly culture. An elaborate society that centered on the court started with the nobility of southern France. This society became widespread over Europe and music was an important activity among it's people. Compositions of secular works and the performances of these works were done by the aristocracy. Music of the troubadours and trouvères from the 12th century on are surviving examples of this secular music.

Are you looking for a piece of music from the middle ages for a recital or just to work on? Click on the link below to purchase some at a great price!

Machaut: Complete Works in 5 Volumes By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For voice. Choral or Vocal Music. Published by L'Oiseau Lyre (MM.OLCS021) ...more info

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Nine Ballads a 2 - Score By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For 2 recorders; or 2 viola da gambas. Recorder Duets, String Duets. Score. Published by Loux Music Co (MM.LMP0186) ...more info

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La Messe de Nostre Dame By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). Arranged by Daniel Leech-Wilkinson. For AATT choir, a cappella. Male Voices. Classic Choral Works. Standard Choral Works. Vocal score. 40 pages. Duration 14'. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193373976) ...more info

Contrepoint A 4 By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For French Horn, 2 Trumpet, Trombone. Standard notation. Published by Gerard Billaudot Editeur (PR.534013250) ...more info

What Does Coeur d' Alene Idaho and Young Artists Have In Common?

Every year in January, young artists from all over the world descend on the small picturesque city of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.  You might ask yourself what these artists are doing in Coeur d' Alene. This North Idaho town holds many treasures and one of it's best kept secrets is the Coeur d' Alene Symphony Orchestra and it's annual Young Artists Competition. This competition encourages young talent and the first place winners have the opportunity to no only win scholarship money, but to perform with the Symphony in their March program. Come hear the Coeur d' Alene Symphony and the winners of this Competition in concert Friday, March 8 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 PM at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Click Here for ticket information!

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Winners of the 2013 Young Artist Competition:

In the High School Division:

Hana Cohon, age 16, Cello, from Seattle, Washington

Felicity James, age 16, Violin, from Seattle, Washington

In the College Division:

Ashley Hoe, age 19, Piano, from Lake Forest, California, a student at USC

Seula Lee, age 21, Violin, from Carrollton, Texas, a student at University of North Texas

Colin McCall, age 22, Marimba, from Rochester, New York, a student at Eastman School of Music

Courtney Ruckman, age 25, Soprano, Mount Vernon, Washington, a student at University of Maryland

The Professional Division:

Catherine Daniel, Mezzo Soprano, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada