Hildegard & Jaufre: Master of the Notes (2006)

The flowering of art and learning during the 12th century was so remarkable that scholars often refer to the period as the 12th-century Renaissance. An intense desire to add new songs and words to the liturgy of the Church is the background for the singular life and works of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), the visionary abbess, poet, composer, and advisor to popes and emperors. At the same time in southern France, troubadours were defining the forms and conventions of love songs that were to influence all later composers. In their program Hildegard & Jaufre: Master of the Notes the Consort contrasted the soaring mystical sacred song/poems of Hildegard with the achingly beautiful songs of unrequited love from afar by one of the greatest of the troubadours, Jaufre Rudel (c.1125-c.1147). The Folger Consort performed Hildegard & Jaufre from March 3 to March 5, 2006.

Artists

Folger Consort

Artistic Directors

• Robert Eisenstein: medieval fiddle, recorder
• Christopher Kendall: citole, harp

Guest artists

• Johana Arnold: soprano
• Richard Lalli: baritone
• Margriet Tindemans: medieval fiddle, harp