Divan-e Shohud - The Book Of Visions

Description

With this recording, Illuminans Tenebras aims to shed new light on the music of Hildegard of Bingen, one of the most remarkable women of the Middle Ages. The ensemble's musical approach shows that the monophony of Hildegard of Bingen's chants bears a striking resemblance to various fundamental Ottoman makamlar — Kürdî, Mahur, Ussak. Illuminans Tenebras draws a parallel between the mystical sounds of Hildegard and passionate Eastern improvisations, establishing a connection between 12th-century Christian mysticism and Sufism of the same period. The recording highlights the musical and spiritual elements that these two traditions share: monodic melodies, improvisation, and ecstasy — music as a path to the divine.