Soul Music

A naturopathic midwife's fascination with a 12th-century mystic gives birth to a second life as a medieval vocalist

Morgan Martin sings in the Medieval Women's Choir of Seattle Between chairing Bastyr University's naturopathic midwifery certificate program, assisting in the births of numerous babies and teaching eager yet demanding naturopathic students, Morgan Martin, ND, LM, is one very busy woman. Although as a naturopathic midwife, she enjoys what is surely one of the world's most uplifting and soul-satisfying jobs, she nevertheless can find her energy flagging. One unique therapy, however, that Dr. Martin has discovered to counteract the effects of an overbooked daytimer is thorough immersion in the music of the Middle Ages. Martin has found solace and renewal in her "second life" as a singer in the Medieval Women's Choir of Seattle.

Martin says she joined the choir because of how it felt to be an audience member. "To hear that music is—how can I say this?—transporting. You feel like you're being transported back in time and into other states of consciousness. I believe it literally alters brainwaves."

Although Martin had been an audience member for nearly eight years, it wasn't until three years ago that she decided to join the choir herself. "I didn't have to audition," says Martin, "because I think the director Magriet Tindemans wants to keep the music alive with the voices of all women who feel called to the music."

Martin found the absence of a formal audition rather fortuitous, since she never considered herself much of a singer. "My parents were musical, so we had music in the home. As a child, I loved to dance and I wanted to sing, but it didn't come naturally to me the way movement did. I did, however, play clarinet and saxophone in school bands from grades four through 12. I was in concert, marching and jazz bands."

Since singing in a Medieval Woman's Choir doesn't seem like the logical next step after playing saxophone in school bands, Martin fills in some of the missing links. "I was first drawn to the choir's music because it performs the compositions of Hildegard Von Bingen, whom I find fascinating. She was a brilliant visionary, composer, abbess, mystic and artist who lived in the 1100s. She was also a healer who wrote about and practiced natural medicine."While the choir doesn't exclusively perform Hildegard's music, the German abbess was so prolific in her creation of liturgical hymns that the choir has many beautifully haunting works from which to choose—compositions in a single vocal melodic line (plainchant) that Martin finds "elevating to the soul."

Martin practices every week with the choir, which performs three to four times yearly. While the choir isn't dependent on trained musicians, a number—particularly the soloists—are highly skilled. "And I've definitely learned to be a better singer through the training we receive while we're being taught the music," says Morgan. "I sing with amazing women of all ages. Most are professionals, some are community leaders, educators, artists, intellectuals and many are in health care. The music and these wonderful women keep drawing me back.

"And I have to say something in praise of our scholarly, passionate, highly skilled and beloved choir director," Martin adds. "The choir really revolves around Magriet Tindemans and her lifelong interest in Hildegard and early music. Magriet is known internationally for her expertise in early music and early stringed instruments."

The choir performs compositions in old German, many forms of Latin, old Scandinavian, early English and Gaelic, and it is devoted to discovering and performing unique historical works. "We've sung music that it's believed may not have been sung for 800 years," says Martin.

"We're creating a healing environment with the music. It's vibrational. It's energy." To prove her point, Martin cites the difference the music has created in her own experience of commuting to Bastyr. "I record our rehearsals, then I listen to the music to and from work. It nourishes me, it makes me happy. I no longer care if there's a traffic jam. It's completely changed my anxiety around the commute."

To say that the little girl who could dance but always wanted to sing is now enjoying this unique vocal outlet would be an understatement. Morgan's experience seems to transcend joy. "I go for the soul elevation and soul expression. It's astounding to be up on stage. Singing the music, feeling it move through me. I get goose bumps and my eyes well up. In fact, I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it now."