The Sacred Music of Hildegard of Bingen

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores Hildegard of Bingen's collection of sacred songs, the Symphony Armoniae Celestium Revelationum - which translates to, "The Symphony and Harmony of Celestial Revelations."

Hildegard of Bingen is one of the earliest recorded female composers. She was active in the 12th century as a poet, composer and Abbess presiding over her own abbey in Rhineland, Germany.

This episode of Music Map features music from other composers who lived around the great Rhine River, including Beethoven and the Schumanns. We'll also celebrate pioneering women in the arts, with music from Nadia Boulanger and Alice Coltrane - and delve into the sound worlds of other deeply religious or spiritual composers, with music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and Olivier Messiaen.

To listen to this programme on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map'.