Happy 900th: Rice Celebrates Hildegard, a Multifaceted Genius

CONTACT: David Kaplan

PHONE: (713)
831-4791

E-MAIL: dkaplan@rice.edu

Happy 900th: Rice Celebrates Hildegard, a Multifaceted
Genius

Hildegard of Bingen lived 900 years
ago, so why would she matter now?

She was a mystic who wrote about her visions. She was also a
playwright, poet and music composer. She was also a preacher–unheard of for a
woman in the 12th century. She founded two monasteries, one of which still
exists. She wrote about illnesses and cures, and is one of the original sources
for holistic medicine. She wrote about science in a systematic manner, and
created her own language and alphabet.

Hildegard is also a candidate for canonization in the Catholic
Church and on Sept. 17 may be officially declared a saint.

She is one of the most incredible women in history, and
throughout the fall, Rice will celebrate the 900th anniversary of the birth of
Hildegard with a series of concerts, a major symposium and a Rice School of
Continuing Studies course that will be open to the public.

Honey Meconi, an associate professor of music at the Shepherd
School of Music, says of Hildegard: “Her multifaceted creativity is unique for
medieval women and matched by few medieval men. In fact, in the history of the
world few individuals have had so much impact in so many different areas. Your
usual creative genius is known for a contribution in a single realm. It’s almost
impossible to say where her impact is greatest.”

Meconi describes Hildegard’s music as “gorgeous. Everyone who
hears it falls in love with it. Twenty years ago her work was virtually unknown,
but she’s emerging as a great composer.”

The following Rice events will celebrate the life and work of
Hildegard: