I was recently reading The Commodore, one of Patrick O'Brian's "Master & Commander" novels. Over the course of a dinner two characters discuss, in a story set during the Napoleonic wars, liturgical dance and its enduring presence in the Mozarabic rite of Toledo. Do any readers have insight as to just what the heck this is supposed to mean?
It looks like - from my limited research - that some medieval Archbishop named "Isidore of Seville" composed some choreography for the rite. It seems it is only done three times a year. Cloistered nuns would apparently do the honors for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.
ReplyDeleteStill unclear whether this was non-liturgical celebration or actually part of the liturgy...
Of interest.
http://books.google.com/books?id=VqvPAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=mozarabic+rite+dance&source=bl&ots=rNRFabD1no&sig=LVv5rj9T2iNnknLrThz-HlRd3b8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=R67vU-DwLIaf8QG77YHIAQ&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=mozarabic%20rite%20dance&f=false
"that some medieval Archbishop named "Isidore of Seville" "
DeleteDo read: http://theradtrad.blogspot.com/2013/07/lesser-known-fathers-iii-st-isidore-of.html
I recall some time ago seeing some pictures of fellows dressed in baroque vestments, performing some sort of choreography in Spain, mentioning it was a reproduction of an old Spanish liturgical dance. Can't seem to find the link though...
ReplyDeleteThe Sieses of Sevilla described at this Spanish website dress in period costumes and perform a stylized dance before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on certain feast days. Whether this can be classified as liturgical dance is open to discussion. Of note is the indult (attributed to papal bull) permitting the dancers to wear hats as they dance in the sanctuary.
DeleteI had no idea of this "rite" being performed in Hispanic Liturgy. Our crazy Spanish liturgists would have surely used it to defend current heteropraxis. But it is worth researching.
ReplyDeleteLord of bollocks: some medieval Archbishop named "Isidore of Seville"... I can only say this:
http://snd1.splashpress1.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/double_facepalm.jpg
Kyrie eleison
Oops, sorry. Did a quick search afterwards and found out who he was.
Delete