Why is hildegard von bingen important

She is one of only four female Doctors of the Church, a title reserved for theologians who have significantly influenced church doctrine. It is believed that Hildegard was a "brand-name" and many of the works attributed to her were written by other nuns in her convent.

If so, the history of composing women in the medieval period is richer and deeper than we know. The music of 10th century composer and visionary Hildegard von Bingen seems to come from somewhere else. Perhaps from another world. Recently Played Feature Albums Composers. Hildegard von Bingen. Monday 11 March am. Her work helped usher in many new and creative ways of thinking. She demonstrated a new way of thinking and living during a time when little was expected of women.

Her historical impact stems as much from her role in diligently recording the culmination of beliefs and practices over centuries of human experience as it does from her unique thinking. Her body of work touches on virtually every part of our beliefs and practices. Why is Hildegard of Bingen Important? Hildegard of Bingen produced major works of theology, music and medicine. Her work continues to influence our ways of thinking today. Among her most recognizable contributions is her theory of Viriditas , the divine force of nature.

Hildegard was an early naturopath. She closely observed and documented human ailments and remedies. We have Hildegard of Bingen to thank for discovering many healing plants and natural remedies. Hildegard was an early nutritionist. But there were no mentions of her music in any reference book before and she barely warranted an entry in the edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music.

She was a prolific letter-writer to everyone from humble penitents looking for a cure for infertility to popes, emperors and kings seeking spiritual or political advice. Her character was steely, determined and overbearing at times. But the nuns who flourished under her unorthodox regime were allowed extraordinary freedoms, such as wearing their hair long, uncovered and even crowned with flowers.

Nevertheless, Hildegard commanded the respect of the Church and political leaders of the day. She was a doer: she oversaw the building of a new monastery at Rupertsberg, near Bingen, to house her little community, and when that grew too large she established another convent in Eibingen, which still exists today though the present building dates from Hildegard is mentioned in a long list of witches through history along with Anne Boleyn — but there's no evidence Hildegard actually had any magical powers.

Hildegard was born in in Bermersheim, on the Rhine, the tenth child of a noble family. It was the custom to promise the tenth child to the Church, so at eight or 14, accounts differ , little Hildegard was sent to the isolated hilltop monastery of Disibodenberg in the care of an older girl, Jutta of Sponheim.

As abbess of this small community, Jutta instructed Hildegard in the Psalter, reading Latin and strict religious practices. A single window linked them to the outside world and they were allowed one meagre meal a day in winter and two in summer.