Daniel and the Feast of Fools
Donald Macleod investigates some unusual festive celebrations popular in the Middle Ages.
Donald Macleod investigates some unusual festive celebrations popular in the Middle Ages.
Christmas celebrations encompassed a great variety of colourful traditions and musical occasions during mediaeval times. Peasants and nobles alike could look forward to many weeks of festivities, from Advent at the start of December, right through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Some of those customs we still recognise and celebrate today. Many are now lost or significantly altered. Donald is joined by early music expert, William Lyons, to examine how Christmas might have felt and sounded to our mediaeval ancestors.
Today, Donald and William look at how churches in the Middle Ages used theatre to press home their Christmas messages, plus they focus their attention the much misunderstood church festival of the ‘Feast of Fools’.
Orientis partibus
Ensemble Obsidienne, directed by Emmanuel Bonnardot,
Orientis partibus
Ensemble Discantus, directed by Brigitte Lesne
The Play of Daniel (Ludus Danielis): Prelude & extracts from Part 1
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Hec est Clara dies
Ensemble Obsidienne, directed by Emmanuel Bonnardot,
Procedenti puero
Ensemble Discantus, directed by Brigitte Lesne
Pérotin: Salvatoris hodie
Diabolus In Musica
The Play of Daniel (Ludus Danielis): Extracts from Part 2
The Dufay Collective, directed by William Lyons
Last on
Music Played
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Anon.
Orientis Partibus
Ensemble: Obsidienne. Director: Emmanuel Bonnardot.- Eloquentia EL1544.
- Eloquentia.
- 2.
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Anon.
Orientis Partibus
Ensemble: Discantus. Director: Brigitte Lesne.- NAIVE : OP 30207.
- NAIVE.
- 20.
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Anonymous
The Play Of Daniel (excerpts)
Ensemble: The Dufay Collective. Director: William Lyons.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU-907479.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 1.
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Anon.
Hec est Clara dies
Ensemble: Obsidienne. Director: Emmanuel Bonnardot.- ELOQUENTIA : EL-1544.
- ELOQUENTIA.
- 3.
![]()
Anon.
Procedenti puero
Performer: Sinfonye. Music Arranger: Stevie Wishart. Director: Stevie Wishart.- HYPERION : NOEL-1.
- HYPERION.
- 3.
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Pérotin
Salvatoris hodie
Ensemble: Diabolus in Musica.- STUDIO SM : 43241.
- STUDIO SM.
- 10.
![]()
Anonymous
The Play Of Daniel (excerpts)
Ensemble: The Dufay Collective. Director: William Lyons.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU-907479.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 20.
Broadcasts
- Tue 5 Dec 202312:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 9 Dec 202516:00BBC Radio 3
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