Margot E. Fassler

This is the first interdisciplinary study of Hildegard’s illuminated treatise Scivias. It analyzes both the music and the illuminations associated with the treatise in Hildegard’s lifetime, showing how they interact within an integrated understanding of the cosmos. Hildegard worked in a time when scientists were generally interested in creating Christianized models of the universe. Her universe is also a model of the church and its sacramental action. Her fiery firmament is cosmic, ecclesial, and individual, all at once. A digitized, sounding model of Hildegard’s cosmos, which uses the advanced technology of Notre Dame’s spectacular Digital Visualization Theater, demonstrates these interrelationships along with new modes of exploration.