Ancient Songs of Prayer

This Mournful Melody Shows Up Everywhere Guest: Alex Ludwig, Assistant Professor, Liberal Arts, Berklee College of Music What do the death of Luke Skywalker’s aunt and uncle, the death of Mufasa and the bridge scene in "It’s a Wonderful Life" all have in common? The "Dies Irae," a mournful melody from a medieval chant about death, plays in the background of all, like a universal dirge. Hildegard von Bingen Guest: Charlotte Stanford, Associate Teaching Professor, Comparative Arts & Letters, Brigham Young University The life, limitations, and legacy of one of the first identifiable composers in Western music: Hildegard Von Bingen, a prioress, writer, scientist, and musician of medieval times.