medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> No, Christopher is right. The 'choir screen' is what we now call a
> "pulpitum", and is usually a stone screen at the entrance to the choir. The
> complication is that in monastic churches (especially those with a parochial
> nave) there was a rood screen one bay west of the pulpitum. This had a
> central altar on its western face, flanked by two doorways, and the rood
> above. A cathedral would not normally have this second screen, and the
> pulpitum is usually called a choir screen.
>
> The term "jubé" is from " jube, domine, benedicere" - which was presumably
> presumably sung 'in pulpito...'
Well, John, if the pulpitum were one bay east of the rood screen, it wouldn't make
much sense to address the congregation from it. It is my understanding that "jube"
and "rood screen", in this case, would be synonymous, but there is some loose
terminology abroad, as well. For example, there is quite a good recent article on
them: Jung, Jacqueline E., “Beyond the Barrier: The Unifying Role of the Choir Screen
in Gothic Churches,” Art Bulletin, LXXXII, no. 4 (2000), 622-57, where she clearly uses
the term "choir screen" for "jube", "Lettner", etc.
In any case, I looked up the processions I had noted down in the 13th-century Chartres
Ordinary to the "pulpitum", and the references are as follows: at Christmas "Finito nono R.
pergit processio in pulpitum cum cruce et texto et thuribulis et candelabris et legitur
evangelium Liber generationis, quo finito Te deum laudamus, v. Exultent iusti." (p. 85). At
Epiphany, "Ultimum R. iterum dicatur dum diaconus ascendit pulpitum cum processione ad
legendam generationem, qua finita dicitur Te deum laudamus." (p. 89). On Holy Saturday,
"Processio in pulpitam cum uno candelabro et uno thuribulo com cruce et uno texto, et in
vigilia pentecostes similiter." (pp. 111-12). And on the feast of the Annunciation, "Ad
processionem in pulpito portentur tot cruces quot texti et mox reponantur curces in thesauro
et texti super altare." (p. 153).
I shall leave it to the more expert latinists and liturgists on the list to interpret this material,
but the phrase "diaconus ascendit pulpitum" suggests to me that the jube, or whatever one
wants to call it, is in question here. On the other hand, I believe there was a pulpit mounted
against one of the southern nave piers near the west end of the nave, which might make
more sense for a procession, although were these processions to have mounted the jube, it
would have made for a memorable spectacle.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|