Alkemie & Friends has found a niche in combining old instruments with new ones to reimagine early music for the 21st century—in fact, it was a performance with Metropolis Ensemble in 2018 that planted the seeds for this exploration. In March, Sian Ricketts and Tracy Cowart, two members of Alkemie, found themselves quarantined with their partners—two musicians, but neither of whom specialize in medieval music. The four artists decided to come together to experiment with what they could make, combining ukuleles with medieval harps and melismatic vocals to bring a slew of medieval pieces to life, forming Alkemie & Friends.
Their video presents a hypnotic rendition of Hildegard von Bingen’s “O Frondens Virga” (“O Blooming Branch”), a piece that centers on nature and growth. While von Bingen is perhaps most known for her feminist writings and influence, she also explored medical and herbal practices and believed that humans and nature were intertwined. Recently, Alkemie has taken a great interest in exploring von Bingen’s writings on nature and medicine. “O Frondens Virga” is an apt companion for our current moment; its focus on blooming is a reminder of growth in a time that feels stagnant.
“O Frondens Virga” also offers the group a great deal of experimentation; von Bingen’s compositions were one line of music, without specification of instruments or rhythms. In this rendition, Alkemie & Friends illuminate the music with a variety of instruments and vocal parts, adding layers and giving depth to the sound. The result is a dramatic and enveloping piece of music, one that delicately bridges the gap between von Bingen’s world and our own, offering a graceful reminder of our interconnectedness.
-- Vanessa Ague
Episode: 59Date: October 22, 2020Artist: Alkemie & FriendsInstrumentation: Voice, Recorder, Percussion, Ukelele, Medieval HarpWork: “O Frondens Virga" ("O Blooming Branch")Composer: Hildegard von BingenMore from House Music