Composer Hildegard von Bingen is one of the most influential figures in Western esotericism and Christian mysticism. Her philosophy of music is deeply intertwined with her theological, cosmological, and visionary worldview. For Hildegard, music was more than a form of entertainment, it is a means for realigning the soul with the harmony of the cosmos and the will of the Divine.
Hildegard viewed music as an echo of the celestial harmonies, what she called the symphonia of creation. In her writings, particularly in her Scivias and the prefaces to her musical compositions, she articulates that music is embedded in the very fabric of existence. She believed that the soul, before entering the body, participates in a choir of angels, singing in perfect unity. Incarnation creates a sense of separation from this original harmony, but music serves as a bridge, reconnecting the soul to its divine source, aligning more closely with the eternal harmony of the Creator.
Her compositions are marked by soaring melodies that break from the conventions of her time, reflecting her belief that music should strive to express the spiritual realities glimpsed in her visions. For Hildegard, singing was an act of praise that had the power to heal, purify, and restore order, both in the individual soul and in the communal body of the church. She emphasized that music has a therapeutic aspect, capable of realigning the microcosm of the human with the macrocosm of creation—a core tenet of her holistic, esoteric philosophy.
Hildegard’s understanding of music also carries a dual dimension: it is both an offering to God and a means by which the human community sanctifies itself. In her view, neglecting music or distorting its sacred purpose was a sign of spiritual disorder, while full-hearted musical praise was a sign of alignment with divine wisdom (Sapientia). This reflects her broader approach—seeing the material and sensory world not as a distraction from spirit, but as a medium through which divine realities are enacted and embodied.
Hildegard von Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess, visionary, composer, writer, healer, and one of the most influential mystics of the 12th century. Born in 1098 in Bermersheim (now in modern day Germany), she entered monastic life at a young age and eventually founded her own independent abbey on the Rupertsberg near Bingen.
Her visionary experiences began in early childhood and continued throughout her life, which she told no one. Until her 40s when she was directed by one of her visions to write down her experiences, becoming the foundation for her major works of theology and cosmology, such as Scivias (“Know the Ways”), Liber Divinorum Operum (“Book of Divine Works”), and Liber Vitae Meritorum (“Book of the Rewards of Life”). These writings are distinctive for their vivid imagery, presenting a cosmos suffused with divine energy and order.
Hildegard was also a prolific composer; her surviving musical works include over seventy liturgical songs and the morality play Ordo Virtutum (“Order of the Virtues”), which is considered one of the earliest known musical dramas. Her music stands out for its melodic daring and spiritual intensity, reflecting her belief that music was a means of connecting with the divine.
In addition to her theological and musical output, Hildegard wrote extensively on natural history, medicine, and healing, drawing from both observation and visionary insight. Her medical works, such as Physica and Causae et Curae, blend folk wisdom, herbal remedies, and spiritual principles, all grounded in her concept of viriditas, the life force permeating all creation.
Hildegard’s influence was recognized in her own lifetime; she corresponded with popes, emperors, and other notable figures, and was regarded as a spiritual authority. She was canonized as a saint and, in 2012, named a Doctor of the Church, acknowledging her theological contributions. Her life and legacy continue to inspire those interested in mysticism, holistic health, art, and the integration of spiritual and material realities through the celestial harmonies of music.
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Music of the Spheres 