This just in from our friends at Death of Classical: “Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th-century rockstar—German nun, mystic, philosopher, writer, and composer—whose extraordinary visions inspired her groundbreaking, breathtaking monophonic vocal compositions.” An astonishing personality, Hildegard, no doubt about it, and a stupendous mind for her time or any other. Yet who but a specialist (read: fanatic) could or would bother to distinguish her musical practice from that of others of her time? Daisy Press, who “was raised on the buses, planes, hotels, and stages of a large-scale international rock ‘n’ roll tour,” has morphed into “a ferocious and ardent interpreter and creator of experimental classical (and non-classical) music.” Her stylings of Hildegard’s medieval chant interweave (we are told) instrumental drone tones and Hindustani ragas. Time for a leap of blind faith! —M.G.
