Here are two additions to the ever-growing collection of recordings celebrating Hildegard’s 900th anniversary. Coming from opposite sides of the globe, their approaches could hardly be more different. “Voices of Angels”, sung by the all-female section of Voices of Ascension, aims at the straight, unadorned singing of a basic repertoire: “It is our feeling”, Dennis Keene explains, “that the inspired poetry and highly nuanced music comes across clearest without a second layer of music added.” There is a lot to be said for this approach: few groups have the nerve or the necessary discipline and austerity to give it a try. These singers introduce variety by contrasting soloists with the soprano group and their alto counterpart: it’s as simple as that. The singing is pure, possibly just what Hildegard herself would have enjoyed and promoted. The only drawback is that its very blandness may pall in a programme lasting over one-and-a-quarter hours. A final word of praise, though, for the presentation of the jewel-case, with its cut-out portrait of Hildegard and attractive black and gold gem-studded frame!
“Celestial Stars”, by the Augsburg Early Music Ensemble, lies right at the opposite end of the scale. Every effort is made to enliven the performance, to place it in an imaginary context with monastic and medieval overtones. Snippets of the Divine Office create the illusion of a monastic background (albeit male, not female). Instrumental interludes (expertly played) – fiddle, harp, psaltery and recorder – are improvised, using typical Hildegardian phrases. The fine professional singing is accompanied – you might think unnecessarily – by vocal drones and delicate instrumentation.
The listener may or may not feel at home with such exuberance: instead of the quiet even-noted approach of the Maryland singers, these Germans indulge in an original rhythmic interpretation all of their own, which has at least the merit of seeking out the structural notes of each melody, filling in the gaps with light rippling cascades of melody. They do manage, however, to capture something of the spirit of ecstasy and that is a definite plus.'