Saying that there is something special about Hildegard von Bingen feels about as original in stating that Bach was contrapuntal genius. These words “genius” and “special” have been so overused they lose their poignancy, but in the case of the timeless nature of Hildegard and her body of work I am at a loss for any other words. In my experience as musicologist and teacher, I have found myself often at the barrier between our modern experience and those left to us from the Medieval period (even from those centuries later than our dear 12th century Hildegard). The passage of time has left an obscuring film that requires a necessary amount of valor as a guide. But wherein I find Hildegard to be so unique, is that her music and personality has a brightness and enduring quality that needs little translation.