Scarlet Music: A Life of Hildegard of Bingen

by Joan Ohanneson

In breathtaking prose, Joan Ohanneson has crafted an unforgettable encounter with Hildegard, the astonishing visionary and prophet, artist and healer, whose music is sweeping the charts today. Weaving into her text Hildegard's own vivid accounts of the Living Light the author brings to life the feather on the breath of God Hildegard of Bingen, who shattered stereotypes of women, of saints, and of God for all time.

Genres: Biography, Religion

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

JOAN OHANNESON is an author, producer, teacher, and international lecturer.

She has worked extensively in the field of human liberation, focusing on issues of spirituality and sexuality and women's gifts in church and society. These themes unite in her third book,

SCARLET MUSIC - A Life of Hildegard of Bingen,

a fictionalized biography of the extraordinary 12th c. abbess and visionary whose prophecies foretold such current events as our ecological crisis and the rise of the Feminine Divine. A medical intuitive, her writings pre-date in the fields of depth psychology and holistic healing. Her 9 books have been reclaimed by scholars in 40 countries while her Gregorian chants are international best sellers.

Reviews

[Maria Felgueiras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a surprising and pleasant read. A powerful and passionate woman who served others throughout her life safeguarded by spiritual voices and visions.

[Fashnhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book connects the 12 th and 21st centuries for me.

[Jan Rivero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hildegard is, to me, one of the most intriguing women mystics of the Church. This novel gives insights into her visionary leadership. But what strikes me most about this story is the strength of her leadership empowered by her faith. She spoke truth to power, both in church and state, unafraid of consequences that in fact did come to her and her abbey.
I do wish the story had been a little easier to follow — at times I felt Ohanneson started a story she didn’t finish or didn’t give enough clarity of details to flesh it out.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalized life of HIldegard von Bingen. Tenth daughter of a noble family she was gifted as tithe to the church at 8. Scant detail is given to her growing years as she lives in isolation with a superior who she ends up replacing as head of her order when her mistress dies. The nuns seem to gossip like a flock of hens. They natter at one another in a most catty fashion. This is not an order that adheres to a vow of silence. Hildegard’s musical abilities reveal themselves early and her visions follow.

The machinations of the people surrounding her seem ungodly, self-serving, even jealous, having little to do with the Holy Spirit. In 1148 von Bingen decides that her Abbot and his minions are taking advantage of her fame and exploiting her notoriety. Accordingly she decides to strike out, found and build her own monastery as its Abbess. Their former abbot tries to prevent their leaving and further withholds the funds that were theirs and prevents their provost from joining them. Navigating the political minefields becomes more complicated than the spiritual ones. Ambition and greed seem to be recurrent themes.

These nuns may have sworn a vow of chastity but they have eyes. Father Volmar their priest and confessor is noted as being strikingly handsome and the young groom who accompanies their journeys arrestingly so. This was an era in which people were still burned alive for heresey and abbesses exercised dictatorial power. When a prelate mocks and bates von Bingen she prophesies his doom.

Her music became popular at the turn of the millennium. I cannot say I buy her visions but in her day they impressed church officials and imperial rulers. They also raised jealousies in a time when women were not considered of any consequence.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I approached this fictionalized biography of Hildegard of Bingen, one my wife purchased some years ago and I just came across on our shelves, with some skepticism–there are so many ways it could have gone wrong. Given its publisher, it could have been written as an inspirational Christian book; it could have been a sentimental, overly simplified hagiography; it could have even been an anachronistic protofeminist tract. Make no mistake: Hildegard is presented as a remarkably strong woman who was both saintly and inspirational. But we also see her as often subject to self-doubt and/or depression, even as self-centered; sometimes she is unnecessarily cruel to those who admired her and at other times she makes judgments and accepts conditions most of us would now condemn (though there is no judgment in the way the author presents them). We also see how she was taken advantage of in the worldly church politics of the time (but also how she learned to make that context work for her, not always admirably). Hildegard’s music, healing work, love of nature, and, especially, her visions are given their due, but it is those maneuverings that give the novel most of its considerable narrative drive, There are, unfortunately, a couple of significant threads that are dropped along the way. But, in compensation, the author thoroughly immerses readers in the medieval world and worldview, and that’s a blessing. I'm impressed! It would be interesting to compare and contrast this with Lauren Groff’s magnificent novel Matrix, set at about the same time but at an abbey in England (Hildegard’s, of course, is along the Rhine in Germany).

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The life of Hildegard of Bingen, starting with her birth as 10th child and, therefore, dedicated to the Church. She becomes the oblate of Jutta, an anchorite. Follows her as she becomes abbess and advisor to some of the most powerful people of her time.

The text is a bit weak. Hildegard doesn't come across as strong as she must have been. However, her observations about the femininity of God are interesting.

[Lisa Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohanneson has brought this saint from the middle ages to life. I found this fictionalized account a much easier read than Hildegard's actual writings. Now that I have read (re-read) this fictional account, I think Hildegard's original writings and her poetry will be more accessible.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of a strong woman who was blessed with visions. I need to know more about her

[Erin O'Riordan]

I had a Hildegard of Bingen phase, like a lot of people in the '90s.

[Dottie Brunette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictionalized version of the life of Hildegard Von Bingen also known as St. Hildegard by some. A medieval abbess who took on the church, defied the pope, was a mystic and an exceptional writer of church music--still used today. A book for anyone looking for something different

[Julie Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched novel that enchanted me because Hildegard was an early feminist in a time when it "hurt." If you enjoy outstanding historical fiction, you will enjoy this.

[Kim Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical novel of Hildegard of Bingen. A great intro into Hildegard...

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more music and less mysticism.