Planctus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A planctus is a lament, or song or poem which expresses grief or mourning. It became a popular form in the Middle Ages, when they were written both in Latin and the vernacular. A number of varieties have been identified by Peter Dronke. From the ninth century, they include dirges for the dead, particularly for royals or heroes, vernacular laments sung by women, Germanic songs of exile and journeying, and fictional planctus on biblical or classical themes. From the twelfth century he identifies laments of the Virgin Mary (called a planctus Mariae) and complaintes d'amour (complaints of love).[1]
[edit] Early forms
The earliest planctus for which music survives are from the tenth century, from manuscripts associated with the abbey of Saint Martial at Limoges. The earliest know, the Planctus de obitu Karoli, was composed around 814 on the death of Charlemagne.[2] From the mid-thirteenth century survives an early Catalan Marian lament, Augats, seyós qui credets Déu lo Payre. Or simply a complaint poem with 27 lines and eight syllables in each line with alliteration in each line.
[edit] References
- John Stevens. "Planctus", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed April 10 2007), grovemusic.com (subscription access).
