Edition, Translation and Commentary of Ms. Lat. 17330 in the Bibliotheque Nationale

FAIN: RO-10543-70

Unaffiliated independent scholar
William Emmet Coleman (Project Director: June 1970 to present)

Project to prepare an annotated edition, with translation and commentary, of the Latin manuscript written in 1373 by Phillippe de Mexieres, at the court of Pope Gregory IX at Avignon. ABSTRACT: Project to prepare an annotated edition, with translation and commentary, of the Latin manuscript written in 1373 by Phillippe de Mexieres, at the court of Pope Gregory IX at Avignon. This ms. was designed as a propaganda piece, arguing for the introduction of the feast of the Virgin into the western Church. It contains a mass and office with music, fully developed liturgical drama with detailed directions for staging, costuming, scenery and music, and a sermon. Such detail is available in no other know medieval play manuscript. Since liturgical dramas were usually produced in monasteries by monks familiar with the story and the music, all the texts of the dramas were written in abbreviated form, with few notations about costuming, setting, and staging. The nature of this Presentation drama as a propaganda piece is unique. Since its author was arguing for the introduction of a feast into the Church calendar, he created a text as attractive and as complete as possible, with a complete description of medieval costuming, setting and staging. This ms. is invaluable not only for the history of the theatre, but as an aid to accurate modern representations of liturgical drama. Musical Director of New York Pro Musica (independent reviewer) expressed great interest in his group's performing work when it is availab.e Funds for PI and assistant, travel to France, per diem, summer salary for PI.