Sibil•la Ensemble draws inspiration from the Sibyls, the female prophetesses who have captivated the human imagination from ancient pagan times to the medieval era and Renaissance. Sibyls were revered across cultures for their divine insights and prophecies. They were seen as conduits between the mortal realm and the divine, shaping the spiritual beliefs of Western civilizations throughout history.

The mystical concept of Viriditas is originating from the theological writings of the German Benedictine abbess, composer, philosopher, mystic, and polymath Hildegard von Bingen, ‘Sibyl of the Rhine’. Hildegard was known for her ability to commune with the divine and derive insights from nature. In Hildegard’s philosophy, Viriditas symbolises the vibrant, life-giving energy that permeates the natural world and the essence of greenness and flora. This divine force, both physical and spiritual, was believed to be experienced in moments of ecstatic connection, where the boundaries between humanity and nature blur.

These 12th and 13th century chants and secular songs from Germany, Spain, France and Cyprus are centred around the concept of Viriditas. Each one is a tribute to the generative power of nature that the Sybils embodied, celebrating its rhythms, cycles, and eternal harmony.

Sibil•la Ensemble
Kristia Michael voice, gothic harp
Andrew Hopper voice, vielle, cittern, rebec
Marguerite Maire recorder
Jeremy Bass medieval lute
Ivan Gianakis percussion
Sanne van Gend hurdy-gurdy