Hildegard von Bingen - Divan-e Shohud (Illuminans Tenebras)

Information

Composer: Hildegard von Bingen

1. O mirum admirandum
2. O frondens virga
3. O splendidissima gemma
4. Spiritui Sancto honor sit, Pt. 1
5. Spiritui Sancto honor sit, Pt. 2
6. O tu suavissima virga, Pt. 1
7. O tu suavissima virga, Pt. 2
8. O lucidissima apostolorum turba
9. Cum processit
10. O Pastor animarum

Illuminans Tenebras

    Eugénie De Mey, contralto

    Lieselot De Wilde, soprano

    Christos Barbas, ney & bendir

    Nabil Naïr, ney

    Nathan Daems, ney

    Tristan Driessens, oud & artistic direction

Date: 2026

Label: Ramée

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With this release, the ensemble Illuminans Tenebras illuminates the extraordinary musical legacy of 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen through an innovative comparative lens. By demonstrating how the monophonic structure of her compositions mirrors the modal frameworks of basic Ottoman makamlar, such as Kürdî, Mahur, and Uşşak, the project bridges Western Christian mysticism and contemporary Sufism. Integrating Hildegard’s visionary chants with passionate Eastern improvisations, the recording highlights the profound spiritual and musical continuities shared by both traditions. Ultimately, it emphasizes monody, spontaneous expression, and ecstasy as universal channels, demonstrating how music serves across cultures as a sacred path to the divine.

Belgian oud player and composer Tristan Driessens is a prominent figure in Ottoman music, Early Music, and modal jazz, having trained in Istanbul under masters Necati Çelik and Yurdal Tokcan. Holding master's degrees in Musicology and Turkish oud, he founded the Lâmekân Ensemble in 2011, collaborated extensively with master musician Kudsi Erguner, and served as artistic director for the acclaimed orchestra Refugees for Refugees. As composer-in-residence at Concertgebouw Bruges, Driessens formed the Shepherds and Sultans and Soolmaan Sextet ensembles. His prolific career includes over ten albums, prominent cross-cultural projects with artists like Kayhan Kalhor, and his solo improvised oud release, Lahza – A Glimpse.