Jeff Bird celebrates the release of Ordo Virtutum, volume two of the music of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179).
The music on volume two is adapted from Hildegard’s morality play Ordo Virtutum, considered to be one of the earliest recorded western musical dramas.
His luminous arrangements for harmonica reveal his deep love and respect for the transcendent power of this 800-year-old music.
Hildegard von Bingen, was an abbess in 12th century Germany, still known today for her impressive theological, scientific, dramatic and musical works. A Saint, a Doctor of the Church, a mystic, a feminist, and a visionary, Hildegard von Bingen has captured the imagination of audiences, artists, and musicians around the world.
Please join Jeff for a live performance of this profound music at the Loyola House Chapel on May 29th at 7pm.
Tickets are available for $25 each here.
Jeff Bird is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is a founding member of the seminal folk group Tamarack. With Cowboy Junkies he was part of the legendary The Trinity Session and continues to record and tour the world with them. He has realized 18 recordings of his own as a soloist and collaborator, and has scored music for film, television and dance. He is an experimental filmmaker and performance artist whose work has been showcased at festivals around the world, from Dawson City, Yukon to Vladivostok, Russia. In 2019 Cowboy Junkies along with Jeff were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Testimonials
“This is such a rewarding magical listening experience. Bird’s perfect breath control on harmonica emulates the original vocal lines throughout all his contemplative arrangements… Bird’s decades-long passion for von Bingen’s music has enabled him to create a new brilliant sound mix of medieval and modern arrangements for instrumentations that all just work perfectly to the final harmonica closing fade.” – Tiina Kiik The WholeNote
“The album is meditative and spiritual in ways one would certainly not expect from a harmonica record—but Jeff Bird has always been about subverting expectations and blowing your musical mind. This is no different.”- Michael Barclay radio free canuckistan
“A true piece of art from an exceptional, mature artist, interpreting the music of a genius. Thanks for bringing your vision of Hildegard’s compositions to life. A worthy accomplishment and a beautiful gift to the world.” – Russ Christianson M.I.R., B Comm.
“Hildegard von Bingen on harmonica? Absolutely! Jeff Bird’s new album, Felix Anima, is a stunner.” – CBC Music