I was recently introduced to an album called The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One by a pair of New Yorkers, Micah Frank and Chet Doxas. Frank plays electronics, does samples, and assembles tape loops while Doxas plays all manner of woodwinds.
Their new album, more of an EP, really, pairs one original song, "Silva Ignis", with their interpretations of four pieces by the 12th century German abbess, writer, composer, et al Hildegard von Bingen. Broadly speaking, their music is ambient and, while it's not a genre I listen to very much, The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One is fantastic.
Check out their version of "Ave Maria". Too much ambient music is comprised of lethargic washes of atmospheric synthesizers. But here Frank imbues a patchwork background with a modest rhythm and lets the scene be colored by Doxas as well as Mary Lattimore on harp. Simply gorgeous, never boring.
Check out their Bandcamp site for more music and purchase options.
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