Medieval fun on TV

[wiseheart]

I've recorded the first episode of "The Pillars of the Earth" recently shown on German TV. It's a series of four episodes, each two hours long, if I'm not mistaken. So far, the TV-version is every bit as wonderful (Tom Builder aka Rufus Sewell) and as horrible (brutality, gore and sadistic enjoyment in the humiliating of women) as the original novel. I like the Philip character as much as I did him in the book. All other characters are... well, I haven't made up my mind about them just yet.

In any case, just "The Name of the Rose", it is one movie/series I won't bother to buy on DVD, despite the excellent main characters played by wonderful actors. Even though, as I've learned, they had made it in Hungary, at least partially. The marketplace had been built near Budapest, apparently.

I also accidentally stumbled upon this new German documentary series on ZDF called "Die Deutschen". Todays episode was about Emperor Friedrich II (13th century), and it was unexpectedly interesting. Drat, I haven't thought of recording it. Too bad; but perhaps next time when I go to Vienna I'll find the DVDs. The next part will be about Hildegard of Bingen, and that's one I simply must not miss.

Comments

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Hildegard von Bingen? Why does it not surprise me in the least that you'd be interested in her? [grin] I do enjoy her music: "Oh Virga ac diadema purpurera regis" is one whose first stanza I had nearly memorized once. And that soaring leap in the first word of the refrain, ave -- "ah-VAY" -- just gives me chills every time. The tidbits I've learned about her over the years makes me want to hunt up a good biography and learn more about this amazing woman. (And, a woman who, frankly, sounds a bit like a certain Tanarno [can't do diacrits here, sorry!] I know, in terms of inner spiritual devotion, sharpness of mind and willingness to challenge what seems wrong in the outer trappings of religiosity today.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

She wrote music, too? I never knew. I knew she was an abbess and a fantastic herbalist, and that she wrote spiritual texts, but music???

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, she wrote sacred music, as well. And it won't surprise you to know that she pushed the boundaries of sacred music of the time, with larger intervals between notes than was customary. Quite the Renaissance woman... way before the Renaissance.

And now I know what to get a certain Magyar lady is getting for Christmas!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Then you're a step further than I am - still trying to figure out which piece of music to choose for you. :)

Addition: and I missed the Hildegard of Bingen part, because the idiots of ZDF put it at 19:00 instead of 20:15 like all the other parts. *is royally pissed* Now I'll have to go to Venna and buy the entire series on DVD. Karl IV of Luxembourg was also very interesting tonight.