“O Pastor Animarum” (O Shepherd of Souls) is a 12th-century Latin antiphon composed by the German mystic and polymath Saint Hildegard von Bingen. As a liturgical song, it functions as a prayer for divine guidance, featuring long-breathed,, mystical melodies commonly performed by female voices in unison.
Key details regarding “O Pastor Animarum”:
- Meaning: The text translates to “O Shepherd of souls, and O first voice through whom all creation was summoned,” asking God to liberate believers from their miseries.
- Musical Style: The piece is a plainchant, characterized by its original, non-traditional melody that ranges over a wide pitch span, common to Hildegard’s work, often starting with a characteristic leap from a fifth.
- Context: It is part of her collection of liturgical songs, Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum.
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