HILDEGARD OF BINGEN & HER VISION OF THE FEMININE

Saint Hildegard was a nun who died in 1179 at 81. Her accomplishments are impressive even by today's super-woman standards. Sent to a convent at age eight, Hildegard realized her gifts as a mystic. She used these gifts as a physician, composer, scholar, champion of the feminine and head of the monastery she founded. Fierro writes simplistically and reads with maternal, patronizing inflections, which sound as if she's reading to a young child. Based on a short book, the program contains long segments of flute music composed by Hildegard. In concluding remarks, an editor notes that musicologist Fierro is herself a religious. D.W.K. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV/DEC 96]