Play of Daniel
Encyclopedia
The Play of Daniel, or Ludus Danielis, is either of two medieval Latin
liturgical drama
s based on the biblical Book of Daniel
, one of which is accompanied by monophonic
music.
Two medieval plays of Daniel survive. The first is one of the plays in the Fleury Playbook
, a 13th-century manuscript
containing ten liturgical dramas; the text is by Hilarius, and no music accompanies it. The play itself dates from c.1140. The second is a 13th-century drama with monophonic music, written by students at the school of Beauvais Cathedral located in northern France. Both plays were complete c.1227 to 1234. A large portion of the text is poetic rather than strictly liturgical
in origin; it closely follows the narrative of the biblical
story of Daniel
at the court of Belshazzar
.
The latter play was revived in the 1950s by Noah Greenberg
, director of the New York Pro Musica
; a commentary in English, written and performed by W. H. Auden
, was used in some of their performances. A recorded 1958 performance by the group at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, and featuring boy choristers of the Church of the Transfiguration as satraps and soldiers, was released by Decca
, with sleeve notes by Paul Henry Lang
and Rembert Weakland
. Since the New York Pro Musica production it has enjoyed many performances among early music troupes.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
liturgical drama
Liturgical drama
Liturgical drama or religious drama, in its various Christian contexts, originates from the mass itself, and usually presents a relatively complex ritual that includes theatrical elements...
s based on the biblical Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
, one of which is accompanied by monophonic
Monophony
In music, monophony is the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This may be realized as just one note at a time, or with the same note duplicated at the octave . If the entire melody is sung by two voices or a choir with an interval between the notes or in...
music.
Two medieval plays of Daniel survive. The first is one of the plays in the Fleury Playbook
Fleury Playbook
The Fleury Playbook is a medieval collection of Latin biblical dramas dating from around 1200 AD. It was included in a composite volume of sermons, biblical texts, liturgical dramas, and hymns that was bound and kept at the library of Abbaye Saint Benoît de Fleury, a Benedictine monastery at...
, a 13th-century manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
containing ten liturgical dramas; the text is by Hilarius, and no music accompanies it. The play itself dates from c.1140. The second is a 13th-century drama with monophonic music, written by students at the school of Beauvais Cathedral located in northern France. Both plays were complete c.1227 to 1234. A large portion of the text is poetic rather than strictly liturgical
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
in origin; it closely follows the narrative of the biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
story of Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
at the court of Belshazzar
Belshazzar
Belshazzar, or Balthazar , was a 6th century BC prince of Babylon, the son of Nabonidus and the last king of Babylon according to the Book of Daniel . Like his father, it is believed by many scholars that he was an Assyrian. In Daniel Belshazzar, or Balthazar , was a 6th century BC prince of...
.
The latter play was revived in the 1950s by Noah Greenberg
Noah Greenberg
Noah Greenberg was an American choral conductor.In 1937, aged 18, Greenberg joined the Socialist Workers Party of Max Schachtman, and worked as a lathe operator and party activist. He lost work-related draft deferment in 1944 and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine till 1949. By this time he had lost...
, director of the New York Pro Musica
New York Pro Musica
New York Pro Musica was a vocal and instrumental ensemble that specialized in Medieval and Renaissance early music. It was co-founded in 1952, under the name Pro Musica Antiqua, by Noah Greenberg, a choral director, and Bernard Krainis, a recorder player who studied with Erich Katz.The ensemble is...
; a commentary in English, written and performed by W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
, was used in some of their performances. A recorded 1958 performance by the group at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, and featuring boy choristers of the Church of the Transfiguration as satraps and soldiers, was released by Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, with sleeve notes by Paul Henry Lang
Paul Henry Lang
Paul Henry Lang was a Hungarian-American musicologist and music critic....
and Rembert Weakland
Rembert Weakland
Rembert George Weakland was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Milwaukee from 1977 to 2002. He is the author of A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop, which explores Church reform issues, his homosexuality, and the child abuse crisis....
. Since the New York Pro Musica production it has enjoyed many performances among early music troupes.
Characters
- Belshazzar's Prince
- BelshazzarBelshazzarBelshazzar, or Balthazar , was a 6th century BC prince of Babylon, the son of Nabonidus and the last king of Babylon according to the Book of Daniel . Like his father, it is believed by many scholars that he was an Assyrian. In Daniel Belshazzar, or Balthazar , was a 6th century BC prince of...
- Two Wise Men
- Three Envious Counselors
- HabakkukHabakkukHabakkuk , also spelled Habacuc, was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. The etymology of the name of Habakkuk is not clear. The name is possibly related to the Akkadian khabbaququ, the name of a fragrant plant, or the Hebrew root חבק, meaning "embrace"...
- Belshazzar's Queen
- DanielDanielDaniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
- Darius the MedeDarius the MedeDarius the Mede is a biblical person in the Book of Daniel, Chapters 6-9, who rules over Babylon after King Belshazzar is deposed. The author of the book of Daniel indicated that Darius was about 62 years old when he was 'made king over Babylon.[5:31] He is best known for having been forced into...
- Two Advisors
- An angelAngelAngels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
- Herald Angel
- Satraps and soldiers
Further reading
- Richard H. Hoppin, Medieval Music. New York, W.W. Norton & Co., 1978.
- Stevens, John. "Medieval Drama, II", in Grove Music Online (Accessed October 11, 2006), (subscription access)