| Unit name | Medieval Drama |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSI39003 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
From Hildegard to Robin Hood and through plays written specifically for guilds, with saucepans and rattles as the musical instruments, we will look at the history of drama in England and France from the 900s to the 1400s. Beginning as an elaborate ceremony added to the liturgical day, these dramas became so excessive and corrupt that they were banned until the 1960s by the Catholic Church. We will look at the themes of the plays, at how liturgical and dramatic they were, and what messages they sent to the 'audience'. Musical techniques used to portray characters, including the first case of the leitmotif, will also be examined. The differences between drama for religious institutions and civic centres will be explored, focussing on the key centres of York, Chester and Coventry. The famous 'Coventry Carol' will be discussed alongside whether angels and devils sung. Staging, costumes and characterisation, along with how music is use for exits, entrances and different locations, will all focus in the discussion. We will end by looking at to what extent it is possible to hear the authorial voice of those who created these dramas.
