My new album, Precious Hope, which features five of the pieces from the Hildegard Revisited project, was released on March 1, 2025 under the Etcetera Record Label. You will find it on all the major streaming platforms (Spotify, Youtube, Deezer, etc.)
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant confinement started me off on a project to record and revisit all 77 liturgical chants written by the 12th century magistra, visionary, healer, poet, musician and all-round influencer, Hildegard Von Bingen. As the project grows, I am keeping a track of all the chants that I have sung and revisited on this page, together with the date the first version of each was posted. All revisited chants are copyright @ Penelope Turner.
You can listen to this project on SoundCloud. (I have put the ‘pure’ chants together in one SoundCloud playlist, the revisited one are in another.)
And you can listen here to my interview (24.05.2022, in French) with Bénédicte Minguet about Hildegard, her healing qualities, and this project, on Hors-champ, radio RCF Liège.
Chants
49. Scivias antiphon for the angels: O gloriosissimi lux vivens angeli, recorded on September 18, 2025 and revisited by November 20, 2025 as O gloriosissimi – the living light.
48. Scivias responsory for the Virgin Mary: O tu suavissima virga, recorded on November 1, 2024 and revisited by July 9, 2025 as O tu suavissima – the sweetest branch.
47. Antiphon for the Virgin Mary: Cum processit, recorded on September 2, 2024 and revisited by October 18, 2024 as Cum processit – the finger of God. Recorded live in the Brussels Cathedral with organist Xavier Deprez on December 16, 2024.
46. Scivias antiphon for the Virgin Mary: O splendidissima gemma, recorded on June 27, 2024 and revisited by August 20, 2024 as O splendidissima – Maria, chorzta gemma.
45. Antiphon for God the Father: O magne pater, recorded on January 10, 2024 and revisited in loving memory of Susan Turner by March 4, 2024 as O magne pater – grief and supplication. Featured on the EP Precious Hope.
44. Sequence for Saint Disibod: O presul vere civitatis, recorded on June 20, 2023 and revisited by November 28, 2023 as O presul – the smoke of spices. Featured on the EP Precious Hope.
43. Responsory for the Virgin Mary: O quam preciosa, recorded on March 28, 2023 and revisited by April 6, 2023 as O quam preciosa – precious hope. Featured on the EP Precious Hope.
42. Votive antiphon for the redeemer: O cruor sanguinis, recorded on February 17, 2023 and revisited in memory of the victims of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria by March 18, 2023 as O cruor sanguinis – lamentation and tremor. Featured on the EP Precious Hope.
41. Mass chant: Kyrie eleison, recorded on November 4, 2022 and revisited by December 11, 2022 as Kyrie eleison – have mercy.
40. Votive antiphon for the dedication of a church: O choruscans lux stellarum, recorded on August 16, 2022 and revisited by October 31, 2022 as O choruscans lux – glittering starlight.
39. Hymn to the Holy Spirit: O ignee spiritus, recorded on June 6, 2022 and revisited by September 29, 2022 as O ignee spiritus – gives taste to the soul.
38. Antiphon to Saint Ursula: O rubor sanguinis, recorded on March 17, 2022 and revisited in solidarity with the people of Ukraine by May 6, 2022 (after the outbreak of war with Russia) as O rubor sanguinis – the flower’s blood. Featured on the EP Precious Hope.
37. Votive antiphon for the dedication of a a church: O orzchis ecclesia, recorded on January 15, 2022 and revisited first by February 28, 2022 and again, for Ensemble Caldemia, by January 19, 2024 as O orzchis ecclesia – the shining jewel.
36. Antiphon for the Virgin Mary: Cum erubuerint, recorded on August 17, 2021 and revisited by October 19, 2021 as Cum erubuerint – the wanderings of the fall.
35. Votive antiphon for the Creator: O quam mirabilis, recorded on August 1, 2021 and revisited by August 11, 2021 as O quam mirabilis – the wondrous breath.
34. Sequence for Saint Rupert: O Jerusalem, recorded on April 23, 2021 and revisited as O Jerusalem – city of gold in two parts: Part I by May 25, 2021 and Part II by June 19, 2021.
33. Antiphon for the Holy Spirit: Spiritus sanctus, recorded on March 24, 2021 and revisited by March 8, 2021 as Spiritus sanctus – glorious life.
32. Hymn for Saint Matthias: Mathias sanctus per electionem, recorded on February 24, 2021 and revisited by March 17, 2021 as Mathias sanctus – like a giant.
31. Votive antiphon for the Virgin Mary: O tu illustrata, recorded on February 7, 2021 and revisited by February 14, 2021 as O tu illustrata – divine brightness.
30. Responsory for the Innocents: Rex noster, recorded on January 20, 2021 and revisited by February 3, 2021 as Rex noster – the clouds weep.
29. Antiphon for Saint John the Evangelist: O speculum columbe, recorded on January 1, 2021 and revisited by January 10, 2021 as O speculum columbe – wonderful flowering.
28. Responsory to Saint Eucharius: O euchari columba, recorded on December 18, 2020 and revisited by December 28, 2020 as O euchari – the wheel.
27. Mass chant: Alleluia o virga mediatrix, recorded on November 27, 2020 and revisited first by December 9, 2020 as Alleluia o virga mediatrix – body and soul and again by December 13, 2023 as Alleluia – o sweet illumination.
20-26 (+ 2). Eight antiphons for Saint Ursula for Lauds: matutinis laudibus. Part I revisited as St. Ursula at Lauds – the kiss of peace. Part II revisited as St. Ursula at Lauds – the firmament sustains.
26. Antiphon 8: sed diabolus, recorded on October 18, 2020 and revisited by Novembler 21, 2020.
25. Antiphon 7: deus enim rorum, recorded on October 18, 2020 and revisited by November 15, 2020.
24. Antiphon 6: et ideo puelle iste, recorded on October 18, 2020 and revisited by November 12, 2020.
2. Antiphon 5: aer enim volat, (re)recorded on October 18, 2020 and revisited by November 10, 2020.
23. Antiphon 4: deus enim in prima muliere, recorded on October 18, 2020 and revisited by November 3, 2020.
22. Antiphon 3: de patris etiam earum, recorded on October 10, 2020 and revisited by October 31, 2020.
21. Antiphon 2: unde quocumque, recorded on October 9, 2020 and revisited by October 28, 2020.
20. Antiphon 1: studium divinitatis, recorded on October 9, 2020 and revisited by October 21, 2020.
19. Antiphon for the Virgin Mary: Hodie aperuit, recorded on September 26, 2020 and revisited by September 30, 2020 as Hodie aperuit – the door opens.
18. Antiphon for Divine Wisdom: O virtus sapientie, recorded on September 13, 2020 and revisited by September 22, 2020 as O virtus sapientie – the three wings.
17. Responsory for the Virgin Mary: Ave maria, recorded on September 4, 2020 and revisited by September 8, 2020 as Ave maria – relatively space.
16. Sequence for the Virgin Mary: O virga ac diadema, recorded on August 18, 2020 and revisited by August 26, 2020 as O virga ac diadema – the introverted sister (of o ignis spiritus – may the funky spirit be with you).
15. Hymn for the Virgin Mary: Ave generosa, recorded on August 7, 2020 and revisited by August 9, 2020 as Ave generosa – version “hurdy gurdy”.
14. Antiphon for Saint Disibod: O beata infantia, recorded on July 14, 2020 and revisited by July 31, 2020 as O beata infantia – a blessed childhood. The opening also recorded as a short, six part canon on August 1, 2020 as Disibod’s canon.
13. Responsory for Saint Disibod: O viriditas digiti dei, recorded on July 6, 2020 and revisited by July 9, 2020 as O viriditas digiti dei – growth surrounds him.
12. Antiphon for the Virgin Mary: Quia ergo femina, recorded on June 23, 2020 and revisited by June 28, 2020 as Quia ergo femina – because a woman.
11. Antiphon for Saint Boniface: O bonifaci, recorded on June 17, 2020 and revisited by June 19, 2020 as O bonifaci – it runs and flows.
10. Antiphon for the Trinity: Laus trinitati, recorded on June 9, 2020 and revisited by June 12, 2020 as Laus trinitati – in the choral tradition.
9. Sequence for the Holy Spirit: O ignis spiritus paracliti, recorded on June 1, 2020 and revisited by June 7, 2020 as O ignis spiritus paracliti – may the funky spirit be with you.
8. Sequence for Saint Maximin: Columba aspexit, recorded on May 23, 2020 and revisited by May 26, 2020 as Columba aspexit – the dove looked in.
7. Antiphon for Saint Rupert: O felix apparicio, recorded on May 16, 2020 and revisited by May 19, 2020 as O felix apparicio – with cello harmonics.
6. Responsory for the Virgin Mary: O clarissima mater, recorded on May 8, 2020 and revisited by Mary 12, 2020 as O clarissima mater – with cello groove.
5. Antiphon for the Virgin Mary: O frondens virga, recorded on May 2, 2020 and revisited by May 4, 2020 as O frondens virga – seen in the mirror (of fa).
4. Hymn for the Virgin Mary: O viridissima virga, recorded on April 21, 2020 and revisited by April 28, 2020 as O viridissima virga – hope springs eternal.
3. Antiphon for the Holy Spirit: Karitas habundat, recorded on April 8, 2020 and revisited first by April 16, 2020 as Karitas habundat – the neumes unite and again, for Rachel Napthine, by June 3, 2020 as Karitas habundat – in loving memory of Rachel.
2. Antiphon 5 in matutinis laudibus for Saint Ursula (see also numbers 20-26): Aer enim volat, first recorded on March 29, 2020 and first revisited by April 1, 2020 as Aer enim volat – needs and duties.
1. Antiphon for the Redeemer: O pastor, recorded on March 18, 2020 and first revisited by March 25, 2020 as O pastor – a cloister of nuns, then, by March 28, 2020 as O pastor – nuns gone rogue, and later, by November 11, 2021 as O pastor – herder of souls.
Here are some extracts from my very first review, written by Stéphane Dado (directeur artistique adjoint at Les Nuits de Septembre, Festival de Wallonie, Belgium), following a live performance of six of my pieces (you can read the full review here):
Penelope Turner … s’est emparée des monodies envoûtantes d’Hildegard von Bingen afin de leur offrir un écrin polyphonique des plus somptueux … cette réalisation est une totale réussite.
Penelope Turner … has taken the bewitching monodies of Hildegard von Bingen and offered them a most sumptuous polyphonic setting … this achievement is a total success.
Avec un talent consommé, Penelope, qui maîtrise de l’intérieur toutes les inflexions de cette musique, superpose sur chaque mélodie originelle un tissu raffiné d’harmonies délicates qui respectent scrupuleusement le matériau médiéval, qui en renforcent la puissance émotionnelle et le caractère capiteux, au point peut-être de rendre cette esthétique mystique de plus de 750 ans plus accessible pour le grand public !
With consummate talent, Penelope, who thoroughly masters all the inflections of this music, superimposes onto each original melody a refined fabric of delicate harmonies, which scrupulously respect the medieval material and reinforce its emotional power and exuberant character, to the point perhaps of making this mystical aesthetic that is more than 750 years old more accessible to the general public!
Si la compositrice d’aujourd’hui a l’humilité de s’effacer et de se fondre dans la musique de son illustre prédécesseur, elle n’en offre pas moins une création originale aux sonorités inscrites dans la modernité du XXIe siècle.
While today’s composer has the humility to step aside and blend in with the music of her illustrious predecessor, she nonetheless offers an original creation with sounds embedded in the modernity of the 21st century.
Rien ne heurte jamais l’oreille, rien n’est stylistiquement contre-nature, chaque pièce jouit aussi d’un « habillage » personnalisé, il n’y a pas de systématisation procédurière dans ce travail d’écriture de sorte que l’eau du fleuve hildegardien est toujours la même mais n’est jamais la même, un véritable trait de génie au regard d’un répertoire aussi iconique et intouchable.
Nothing ever jars the ear, nothing is stylistically unnatural, the polyphonic flow runs naturally in a shimmer of seemingly simple yet elaborate harmonies. Each piece also benefits from a personalized “dressing” – there is no procedural systematization in these compositions such that the water of the Hildegardian river is always the same but is never the same – a real stroke of genius for such an iconic and untouchable repertoire.
