Long Ago and Far Away Cello Viola Duet by Continuum Music

Yellow version for migraines, neurodivergent students or late night practices. White version for those who love high contrast.

Long Ago (and Far Away) – after Hildegard von Bingen, for cello and viola

This is a contemporary arrangement for cello and viola of music associated with the 12th-century Benedictine abbess, mystic, and composer Hildegard von Bingen (c. 1098–1179). Hildegard’s original works are monophonic chants—single melodic lines with her own Latin poetic texts—preserved in the Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum and the morality play Ordo Virtutum. They feature expansive ranges, flowing melismas, and an improvisatory, almost ecstatic character that she linked to heavenly harmony and the “living light” of her visions.

In this version, the cello and viola take those distant medieval lines into a new instrumental dialogue. One instrument often carries the chant-like melody while the other supplies drones, open fifths, gentle counterpoint, or harmonic support, creating a warm, resonant texture that feels both ancient and intimate. The lower registers of the cello ground the music in earthy depth; the viola’s richer middle voice adds a human, almost vocal quality. Together they evoke the cloistered yet visionary world of Rupertsberg on the Rhine—long ago and far away—while remaining fully present and listenable today.

The title nods both to the remote historical origin of the material and to the sense of nostalgia and wonder that Hildegard’s music still inspires. No vocals or original Latin texts are required; the instruments alone convey the meditative, luminous character of her style. Ideal for listeners drawn to early music, minimalist chamber textures, or quiet, contemplative listening.