The mediaeval stage, volume 2 (of 2)Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)
History
The mediaeval stage, volume 2 (of 2)
Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)
Drama, Medieval -- History and criticism; Theater -- History -- Medieval, 500-1500
‘While the third lesson is being chanted, let four brethren
vest themselves. Let one of these, vested in an alb, enter as
though to take part in the service, and let him approach the
sepulchre without attracting attention and sit there quietly
with a palm in his hand. While the third respond is chanted,
let the remaining three follow, and let them all, vested in
copes, bearing in their hands thuribles with incense, and
stepping delicately as those who seek something, approach the
sepulchre. These things are done in imitation of the angel
sitting in the monument, and the women with spices coming to
anoint the body of Jesus. When therefore he who sits there
beholds the three approach him like folk lost and seeking
something, let him begin in a dulcet voice of medium pitch to
sing _Quem quaeritis_. And when he has sung it to the end, let
the three reply in unison _Ihesu Nazarenum_. So he, _Non est
hic, surrexit sicut praedixerat. Ite, nuntiate quia surrexit a
mortuis._ At the word of this bidding let those three turn to
the choir and say _Alleluia! resurrexit Dominus!_ This said,
let the one, still sitting there and as if recalling them, say
the anthem _Venite et videte locum_. And saying this, let him
rise, and lift the veil, and show them the place bare of the
cross, but only the cloths laid there in which the cross was
wrapped. And when they have seen this, let them set down the
thuribles which they bare in that same sepulchre, and take
the cloth, and hold it up in the face of the clergy, and as
if to demonstrate that the Lord has risen and is no longer
wrapped therein, let them sing the anthem _Surrexit Dominus
de sepulchro_, and lay the cloth upon the altar. When the
anthem is done, let the prior, sharing in their gladness at the
triumph of our King, in that, having vanquished death, He rose
again, begin the hymn _Te Deum laudamus_. And this begun, all
the bells chime out together.’
The liberal _scenario_ of the _Concordia Regularis_ makes plain the
change which has come about in the character of the _Quem quaeritis_
since it was first sung by alternating half-choirs as an _Introit_
trope[38]. Dialogued chant and mimetic action have come together and the
first liturgical drama is, in all its essentials, complete.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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