medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
John Briggs wrote:
> Laura Jacobus wrote:
>>
>> But still, I need to know if it's fair to say that 'most (or even
>> 'many') early church dramas were originally perfomed by and for the
>> clergy in the privacy of their choirs'. Or does anyone think they
>> weren't?
>
> Well, the 'Visitatio Sepulchri' seems to date from c.850, and the
> Regularis Concordia of St Ethelwold of 965-75 talks about the
> brothers enacting the roles of the women advancing down the nave in
> hesitant manner, and being accosted by the angel as they approached
> the altar. Admittedly, we are still speaking about an abbey here, so
> the presence of laity can't be taken for granted. In secular
> churches I suppose the drama could have been confined to the choir.
Thinking about it some more, the problem seems to be this. Liturgical drama
seems to originate at monastic establishments. It is clear that it is
performed by and for the community. They used the whole of the church,
whilst concentrating the action within the choir. Whether any laity were
present would, I suppose, depend on to what extent they were regarded as
part of the community in its broadest sense (e.g. servants, families of
servants). We next hear about it at cathedrals which have schools, so it is
still 'by the community, for the community' and adopting the monastic
practice. The imponderable is the extent to which other parts of the church
were used, and if so whether the laity were present.
John Briggs
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