minstrel: Theater of the time

[Ted Robertson]

Where was this? Of course everything varies from place to place and
time to time, but my understanding is that as a general rule, the
church came down against performers, ostensibly because they the were
competition. I've never heard of church plays before. Improvisational
chant and dancing monks would fall still within  bounds of church,
well, performance. This is very different from theater, which was
considered very secular and rather suspect. I'd be interested to know
your sources?



Teadoir

From: trouvere_york at hotmail.com
To: worg29 at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: minstrel: Theater of the time
Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 10:03:38 +0100










Not entirely the case!
 
There are a great series of church plays telling the tales 
of various Saints and Miracles.  My own favourite is the Play of Daniel 
(Ludus Danielis).  The play is from the 12th century (maybe early 13th) and 
features music, lyrics, characters and some stage directions.
 
The are recorded instances of  monks improvising on 
the liturgical chant as they sing.  There are even records of monks 
dancing.  
 
Official bulls are occasionally issued that orders monks 
and priests to refrain from dancing and improvising.  This does not mean 
that it did not happen, it actually means that dancing and improvising certainly 
did happen.  So while it is true to say that there was something of an 
official line against performance, it is also true that performance was alive 
and well within the medieval church.
 
Hope this is useful,
 
Cheers
 
Paul
www.medievalminstrels.com 


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Ted Robertson 
  
  To: magana101 at yahoo.com ; minstrel at pbm.com 
  
  Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 9:40 
AM
  Subject: Re: minstrel: Theater of the 
  time
  
Hate to tell you, the church was at absolute odds with with 
  theater during most of the middle ages. The clergy preached that the 
  performing arts were a straight shot to hell.
You can mix the two, but it 
  won't be period.

Teadoir



  
  Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 07:24:26 -0700
From: magana101 at yahoo.com
To: minstrel at pbm.com
Subject: minstrel: 
  Theater of the time


  
    
    
      
        I am interested in theater of the middle-ages and the Church of 
        the time. 
         
        As a very new member of the SCA and the Kingdom of Trimaris, I 
        would like to find my persona in the performing arts and that of the 
        Church.  Since Bards and the Church were the primary form of 
        organized entertainment, I was hoping that joining this list might be of 
        some help.
         
        Please let me know of any sites, or other places I might look 
        for help in re-creating theater for performance. 
         
        With Kind Regards,
         
        Mario  
           
         
           
        
          
         


  
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Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 07:24:26 -0700
From: magana101 at yahoo.com
To: minstrel at pbm.com
Subject: minstrel: Theater of the time

I am interested in theater of the middle-ages and the Church of the time. 
 
As a very new member of the SCA and the Kingdom of Trimaris, I would like to find my persona in the performing arts and that of the Church.  Since Bards and the Church were the primary form of organized entertainment, I was hoping that joining this list might be of some help.
 
Please let me know of any sites, or other places I might look for help in re-creating theater for performance. 
 
With Kind Regards,
 
Mario  
   
 
   

  
 

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