DESCRIPTION:
Hildegard von Bingen (1098 -- 1179) O Viridissima Virga
Performed by Emma Baker-Spink (soprano) and Dale Rickert (cello)
www.ikonmusic.com.au


With superb control, Hildegard elaborates the image of Mary as the branch of Jesse. Mary's fertility endows the animal and vegetable kingdoms with new life and brings Mankind to God through the sheer joy of contemplating the Divine agency.


O viridissima virga

O viridissima virga ave,
que in ventoso flabro sciscitationis sanctorum
prodisti.

Cum venit tempus
quod tu floruisiti in ramis tuis;
ave, ave sit tibi,
quia calor solis in te sudavit
sicut odor balsami.

Nam in te floruit pulcher flos
qui odorem dedit omnibus aromatibus
que arida erant.

Et illa apparuerunt omnia
in viridate plena.

Unde celi dederunt rorem super gramen
et omnis terra leta facta est,
quoniam viscera ipsius
frumentum prorulerunt,
et quoniam volucres celi
nidos in ipsa habuerunt.

Deinde facta est esca hominibus,
et gaudium magnum epulatnium;
unde, o suavis virgo,
in te non deficit ullum gaudium.

Hec omnia Eva contempsit.

Nunc autem laus sit altissimo.


Hail, o greenest branch,
sprung forth in the airy breezes
of the prayers of the saints.

So the time has come
that your sprays have flourished;
hail, hail to you.
because the heat of the sun has exuded from you
like the aroma of balm.

For the beautiful flower sprang from you
which gave all parched perfumes their aroma.

And they have radiated anew
in their full freshness.

Whence the skies bestowed dew upon the pasture,
and all the Earth was made joyful
because her womb
brought forth corn,
and because the birds of the firmament
built their nests in her.

Then there was harvest ready for Man
and a great rejoicing of banqueters,
whence, o sweet Virgin,
no joy is lacking in you.

Eve rejected these things.

Now let there be praise to the highest.