Hildegard von Bingen: O Frondens Virga (O Leafy Branch) with drone provided by 2021 Brood X Cicadas

Episode No. 45 of the Social DistanSING Series

A while back, my friend shared a video of her improvising along with the drone of a sewage truck outside her home. if you've been in this virtual recording world this past year, you know how difficult it is to eliminate all outside noise. I've had to record through barking dogs, lawnmowers, helicopters, and idling engines. It's maddening!!!! I even have to turn the a/c and heat off while I record so I'm left either dripping with sweat or frigid cold (I often tuck a heating pad into my clothes to stay a bit warm but my hands are often blue by the end!!!)

And don't even get me started on the internal house noise created by my husband and two small children (bless their hearts, they do their best to be quiet!!!) But I loved the idea of making the best of the situation at hand.

Then I rememebred the Brood X cicadas were set to arrive in Maryland in May/June. I was ECSTATIC. To me, their singing is most welcome. Hearing them when I wake up in the morning makes me so happy! I wanted to take advantage of their beautiful drone and there was no better way, in my mind, than going on an adventure into the woods behind our house with two tripods, two iPhone 7's, and my voice. No overly fancy tech. Just me and the earth.

And what better song to sing than O Frondens Virga (O Leafy Branch) by Hildegard von Bingen.

I truly hope you love this cicada song. It was the most peaceful hour, being among the music of the cicadas and birds.

~~~~~~~~~~~
O leafy branch,
Standing in your nobility
as the dawn breaks:
Now rejoice and be glad
and from our bad habits
deign to set us free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

To learn more about Kristen, visit http://www.kristendubenionsmith.com

Filmed and recorded in the woods behind our house in Crofton, Maryland