The London Times reported that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has set text by Hildegard of Bingen in a new work: Liber Pulsationis Fabulatoris (which translates to, “The Book of Pulsations of the Creator of Legends.”) The piece was commissioned as part of the celebration for Liverpool 2008 European Capital of Culture and will be premiered at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral in December. It is also dedicated to Sir Paul McCartney.
The article (which can be found here) primarily details the friendship that has developed between Davies and McCartney and (unfortunately) discusses little of the actual work (for instance that it is a choral piece and 20 minutes in duration.) There is no reference to which of Hildegard’s numerous works the text is derived, and the article describes Hildegard only as “a 12th century German poet.” (I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds this to be a gross understatement!)
Regardless, it will be exciting and interesting to hear this new work and discover more about Davies’ choice of text, as well as what Hildegardians have to say about the piece …