Гільдеґарда (‘Hildegard’ in Ukrainian) is a unique reimagining of Hildegard von Bingen’s music. It combines the vocal approaches of authentic Ukrainian folk singing with modular synthesis techniques drawn from high medieval polyphony and monophony.
This approach, realised by Oleh Shpudeiko (Heinali), an electronic music composer extending Western medieval music traditions through modular synthesis, and Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko, a singer practicing authentic Ukrainian vocal tradition, highlights the physicality inherent in Hildegard’s visionary music, serving as a distant mirror to reflect, comprehend, externalise, and transcend wartime experiences.
“When a Russian missile struck the ground not far from my studio in Kyiv, I vividly remember how my body reacted to the explosion, milliseconds before my mind did. That traumatic explosion reduced my essence to a primal state. There existed nothing but dread — the kind that, in scripture, accompanies the appearance of angels announcing, ’Be not afraid’. — Oleh Shpudeiko (Heinali)
Гільдеґарда features two compositions by Hildegard von Bingen: ‘O Ignis Spiritus Paracliti’ (‘O Fire of the Spirit and Defender’), dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and ‘O Tu Suavissima Virga’ (‘O Sweetest Branch’), in honour of the Virgin Mary. Both pieces are performed radically slower than usual, expanding in time and space. The encore piece ‘Zelenaia Dubrovonka’ (‘The Green Oak Grove’) is based on a Ukrainian folk song from the Polissia region. The green oak grove does not rustle with the wind; instead, it resonates with a different sound—perhaps the missile that struck near my Kyiv studio.”
The Hildegard performance is part of the addendum — an exhibition by Kollektiv 349 — a self-organised initiative of both students and alumni of Klasse David Schutter at UdK (Universität der Künste, Berlin). The collective creates direct, non-hierarchical interactions between art and the public, and seeks to bridge the gap between institutional and commercial art. Following an exhibition at Lützowstraße Bunker, addendum takes place at the Kleiner Wasserspeicher.
