Hildegard von Bingen: O Viridissima Virga. Molly Netter, soprano & Voices of Music 8K video

O Viridissima Virga, performed by the award winning Early Music ensemble Voices of Music, Molly Netter, soprano. Live, 8K video from our Secret Garden concert, April, 2026. The Secret Garden—a beloved children's book from a century ago—was also a powerful image for medieval and Renaissance poets and musicians. In a world in which nature was often unpredictable and harsh, what great joy it must have been to imagine a protected space where nature, beauty, and horticulture could enrich one's life and invite one to dance, sing, and love. In the medieval imagination, the world began with the Garden of Eden—always verdant, always springlike, but lost to us. In O viridissima virga (O green branch), Hildegard von Bingen imagines lost Eden recreated in the fruitfulness of Mary, the "second Eve"—both a budding branch (virga) and a virgin (virgo), whose womb bears Jesus. (Nicholas Jones) Text O viridissima virga, ave, que in ventoso flabro sciscitationis sanctorum prodisti. Cum venit tempus quod tu floruisti in ramis tuis, ave, ave fuit tibi, quia calor solis in te sudavit sicut odor balsami. Nam in te floruit pulcher flos qui odorem dedit omnibus aromatibus que arida erant. Et illa apparuerunt omnia in viriditate plena. Unde celi dederunt rorem super gramen et omnis terra leta facta est, quoniam viscera ipsius frumentum protulerunt et quoniam volucres celi nidos in ipsa habuerunt. Deinde facta est esca hominibus et gaudium magnum epulantium. Unde, o suavis Virgo, in te non deficit ullum gaudium. Hec omnia Eva contempsit. Nunc autem laus sit Altissimo. O greenest branch, hail, you who came forth within the windy gusts of the saints’ jouney When the time came that you blossomed in your branches, hail, hail to you, for the heat of the sun poured over you like the fragrance of balm. For in you bloomed a beautiful flower that gave fragrance to all the spices that were dry. And all these appeared in full greenness. Then rained the heavens dew upon the grass and all the earth was made joyful, for its womb brought forth grain, and the birds of heaven set their nests in it. Then food was made for men and women, and great was the joy of those who ate Therefore, O sweet Virgin, no joy is lacking in you. All these things Eve chose to scorn. And now, let praise ring forth unto the Highest. Voices of Music Hanneke van Proosdij & David Tayler, directors Molly Netter, soprano Cheryl Ann Fulton, medieval harp Shira Kammen, vielle Hanneke van Proosdij, recorder David Tayler, Laouta Music: Boby Borisov, audio engineer and ambisonics design Video: Lloyd Hryciw & Doris Du 8K technology: David Tayler Produced by Hanneke van Proosdij & David Tayler Post Production: David Tayler & Andrew Levy Audio mastering, video cutting and final 8K color and render: David Tayler #hildegardvonbingen