Sacha Stern
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198270348
- eISBN:
- 9780191600753
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198270348.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
Traces the development of the Jewish calendar—how months and years were reckoned—from its earliest descriptions in the second century b.c.e. until it reached, in the tenth century c.e., to its ...
More
Traces the development of the Jewish calendar—how months and years were reckoned—from its earliest descriptions in the second century b.c.e. until it reached, in the tenth century c.e., to its present form. Solar and lunar calendars are attested in the early period, but by the first century c.e., the Jewish calendar had become predominantly lunar. A wide range of sources (literary, documentary/epigraphic, Jewish, Graeco‐Roman, and Christian) reveals, however, that Jewish communities in Palestine and the diaspora reckoned their lunar calendar independently from one another, and hence, would often celebrate the same festivals at different times. This diversity persisted until the end of antiquity, although some general trends can be identified. Until the first century c.e., Jewish lunar calendars tended to be late in relation to the solar year, and Passover would always occur after the spring equinox; whereas, by the fourth century, intercalations were adjusted in such a way that Passover was frequently earlier. In the fourth century, moreover, many communities began to calculate the day of the new moon instead of relying on observation of the new crescent, as had previously been the norm. The change from observation to calculation is particularly evident in the case of the rabbinic calendar, for which there is more evidence than any other Jewish calendar. Largely under pressure from the Babylonian rabbinic community, the rabbinic calendar gradually evolved from the third century c.e. into a fixed, calculated calendar, which became dominant in the Jewish world by the tenth century. The general evolution of the Jewish calendar throughout our period, from considerable diversity (solar and lunar calendars) to unity (a single, normative rabbinic calendar), can be explained as epitomizing the emerging solidarity and communitas of the Jewish communities of late antiquity and the early medieval world.Less
Traces the development of the Jewish calendar—how months and years were reckoned—from its earliest descriptions in the second century b.c.e. until it reached, in the tenth century c.e., to its present form. Solar and lunar calendars are attested in the early period, but by the first century c.e., the Jewish calendar had become predominantly lunar. A wide range of sources (literary, documentary/epigraphic, Jewish, Graeco‐Roman, and Christian) reveals, however, that Jewish communities in Palestine and the diaspora reckoned their lunar calendar independently from one another, and hence, would often celebrate the same festivals at different times. This diversity persisted until the end of antiquity, although some general trends can be identified. Until the first century c.e., Jewish lunar calendars tended to be late in relation to the solar year, and Passover would always occur after the spring equinox; whereas, by the fourth century, intercalations were adjusted in such a way that Passover was frequently earlier. In the fourth century, moreover, many communities began to calculate the day of the new moon instead of relying on observation of the new crescent, as had previously been the norm. The change from observation to calculation is particularly evident in the case of the rabbinic calendar, for which there is more evidence than any other Jewish calendar. Largely under pressure from the Babylonian rabbinic community, the rabbinic calendar gradually evolved from the third century c.e. into a fixed, calculated calendar, which became dominant in the Jewish world by the tenth century. The general evolution of the Jewish calendar throughout our period, from considerable diversity (solar and lunar calendars) to unity (a single, normative rabbinic calendar), can be explained as epitomizing the emerging solidarity and communitas of the Jewish communities of late antiquity and the early medieval world.
Cesar Lombardi Barber
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691149523
- eISBN:
- 9781400839858
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691149523.001.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, Criticism/Theory
This book argues that Elizabethan seasonal festivals such as May Day and Twelfth Night are the key to understanding Shakespeare's comedies. Interweaving anthropology, social history, and literary ...
More
This book argues that Elizabethan seasonal festivals such as May Day and Twelfth Night are the key to understanding Shakespeare's comedies. Interweaving anthropology, social history, and literary criticism, the book traces the inward journey—psychological, bodily, spiritual—of the comedies: from confusion, raucous laughter, aching desire, and aggression, to harmony. Revealing the interplay between social custom and dramatic form, the book shows how the Elizabethan antithesis between everyday and holiday comes to life in the comedies' combination of seriousness and levity. “I have been led into an exploration of the way the social form of Elizabethan holidays contributed to the dramatic form of festive comedy. To relate this drama to holiday has proved to be the most effective way to describe its character. And this historical interplay between social and artistic form has an interest of its own: we can see here, with more clarity of outline and detail than is usually possible, how art develops underlying configurations in the social life of a culture.” This new edition includes a foreword that discusses the author's influence on later scholars and the recent critical disagreements that the author has inspired, showing that this book is as vital today as when it was originally published.Less
This book argues that Elizabethan seasonal festivals such as May Day and Twelfth Night are the key to understanding Shakespeare's comedies. Interweaving anthropology, social history, and literary criticism, the book traces the inward journey—psychological, bodily, spiritual—of the comedies: from confusion, raucous laughter, aching desire, and aggression, to harmony. Revealing the interplay between social custom and dramatic form, the book shows how the Elizabethan antithesis between everyday and holiday comes to life in the comedies' combination of seriousness and levity. “I have been led into an exploration of the way the social form of Elizabethan holidays contributed to the dramatic form of festive comedy. To relate this drama to holiday has proved to be the most effective way to describe its character. And this historical interplay between social and artistic form has an interest of its own: we can see here, with more clarity of outline and detail than is usually possible, how art develops underlying configurations in the social life of a culture.” This new edition includes a foreword that discusses the author's influence on later scholars and the recent critical disagreements that the author has inspired, showing that this book is as vital today as when it was originally published.
Ronald Hutton
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198205708
- eISBN:
- 9780191676758
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198205708.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History, British and Irish Early Modern History
From the Twelve Days of Christmas to the Spring traditions of Valentine, Shrovetide, and Easter eggs, through May Day revels and Midsummer fires, and on to the waning of the year, Harvest Home, and ...
More
From the Twelve Days of Christmas to the Spring traditions of Valentine, Shrovetide, and Easter eggs, through May Day revels and Midsummer fires, and on to the waning of the year, Harvest Home, and Halloween, this book takes us on a journey through the ritual year in Britain. It presents the results of a comprehensive study that covers all the British Isles and the whole sweep of history from the earliest written records to the present day. Great and lesser, ancient and modern, whether performed by Christians or pagans, all rituals are treated with the same attention. The result is an account that illuminates the history of the calendar we live by, and challenges many commonly held assumptions about the customs of the past and the festivals of the present. The first work to cover the full span of British rituals, the book challenges the work of specialists from the late Victorian period onwards, reworking our picture of the field and raising issues for historians of every period.Less
From the Twelve Days of Christmas to the Spring traditions of Valentine, Shrovetide, and Easter eggs, through May Day revels and Midsummer fires, and on to the waning of the year, Harvest Home, and Halloween, this book takes us on a journey through the ritual year in Britain. It presents the results of a comprehensive study that covers all the British Isles and the whole sweep of history from the earliest written records to the present day. Great and lesser, ancient and modern, whether performed by Christians or pagans, all rituals are treated with the same attention. The result is an account that illuminates the history of the calendar we live by, and challenges many commonly held assumptions about the customs of the past and the festivals of the present. The first work to cover the full span of British rituals, the book challenges the work of specialists from the late Victorian period onwards, reworking our picture of the field and raising issues for historians of every period.
Teofilo F. Ruiz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691153575
- eISBN:
- 9781400842247
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691153575.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
This book examines the scripting and performance of festivals in Spain between 1327 and 1620, offering an unprecedented look at the different types of festivals that were held in Iberia during this ...
More
This book examines the scripting and performance of festivals in Spain between 1327 and 1620, offering an unprecedented look at the different types of festivals that were held in Iberia during this crucial period of European history. Bridging the gap between the medieval and early modern eras, the book focuses on the travels and festivities of Philip II, exploring the complex relationship between power and ceremony, and offering a vibrant portrait of Spain's cultural and political life. The book covers a range of festival categories and probes the ritual meanings of these events, paying special attention to the use of colors and symbols, and to the power relations articulated through these festive displays. It argues that the fluid and at times subversive character of medieval festivals gave way to highly formalized and hierarchical events reflecting a broader shift in how power was articulated in late medieval and early modern Spain. Yet the book contends that these festivals, while they sought to buttress authority and instruct different social orders about hierarchies of power, also served as sites of contestation, dialogue, and resistance. The book sheds new light on Iberian festive traditions and their unique role in the centralizing state in early modern Castile.Less
This book examines the scripting and performance of festivals in Spain between 1327 and 1620, offering an unprecedented look at the different types of festivals that were held in Iberia during this crucial period of European history. Bridging the gap between the medieval and early modern eras, the book focuses on the travels and festivities of Philip II, exploring the complex relationship between power and ceremony, and offering a vibrant portrait of Spain's cultural and political life. The book covers a range of festival categories and probes the ritual meanings of these events, paying special attention to the use of colors and symbols, and to the power relations articulated through these festive displays. It argues that the fluid and at times subversive character of medieval festivals gave way to highly formalized and hierarchical events reflecting a broader shift in how power was articulated in late medieval and early modern Spain. Yet the book contends that these festivals, while they sought to buttress authority and instruct different social orders about hierarchies of power, also served as sites of contestation, dialogue, and resistance. The book sheds new light on Iberian festive traditions and their unique role in the centralizing state in early modern Castile.
David Albert Jones
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199213009
- eISBN:
- 9780191707179
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199213009.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
This chapter examines the clergy's core task of leading worship in their parishes. It explores the evidence about Sunday services, about how frequently they were held, the manner in which they were ...
More
This chapter examines the clergy's core task of leading worship in their parishes. It explores the evidence about Sunday services, about how frequently they were held, the manner in which they were conducted, the conscientiousness or not of the clergy, the frequency of weekday services, and the frequency and manner of celebrating Holy Communion. The extent of the participation of lay people in conducting worship is examined, especially in terms of music, in choirs, and the attitude of the clergy to this. The observation of Church fasts and festivals is examined, as well as the involvement of clergy in communal celebrations, such as fairs and friendly societies. The role of the clergy in churchings, baptisms, and weddings, including ‘clandestine marriage’, involving more or less serious legal irregularities in conducting a marriage, is investigated.Less
This chapter examines the clergy's core task of leading worship in their parishes. It explores the evidence about Sunday services, about how frequently they were held, the manner in which they were conducted, the conscientiousness or not of the clergy, the frequency of weekday services, and the frequency and manner of celebrating Holy Communion. The extent of the participation of lay people in conducting worship is examined, especially in terms of music, in choirs, and the attitude of the clergy to this. The observation of Church fasts and festivals is examined, as well as the involvement of clergy in communal celebrations, such as fairs and friendly societies. The role of the clergy in churchings, baptisms, and weddings, including ‘clandestine marriage’, involving more or less serious legal irregularities in conducting a marriage, is investigated.
Axel Michaels
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195343021
- eISBN:
- 9780199866984
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195343021.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
The book deals with festivals and rituals at the Nepalese Paśupatnātha Temple located in Deopatan, the City of (all) Gods, and the Paśupatikṣetra, the “Field of Paśupati.” Paśupati, a form of Śiva, ...
More
The book deals with festivals and rituals at the Nepalese Paśupatnātha Temple located in Deopatan, the City of (all) Gods, and the Paśupatikṣetra, the “Field of Paśupati.” Paśupati, a form of Śiva, is regarded as the tutelary and protective deity of Nepal and his temple as both national and sacred monument that has since many centuries attracted thousands of pilgrims from India. After introducing the temple, its history, organisation and vicinity, all major festivals connected to it are thoroughly described and examined. The material used by the author includes mythological and eulogising texts, chronicles, inscriptions and elaborate field‐work studies. The book also deals with religious conflicts between different forms of Hinduism as well as with religious identities and contested priesthood. Due to the strength of various tantrically worshipped goddesses in Deopatan, Śiva comes under ritual pressure time and again. Underlining this religious tension are fundamental conflicts between the indigenous Newar population and the Nepali speaking population which originally immigrated from India or between the South Indian Bhaṭṭa priests and the Newar Karmācārya priests. Moreover, ritual forms of worship are contested, as in the instance of tantric forms of worship with alcohol and animal sacrifices versus pure, vegetarian forms of worship. In recent times these conflicts have increasingly been politicized and due to the impact of the World Heritage Monument policy the Paśupati area is successively restructured and shaped into a religious pilgrimage place for Indian and Western tourists.Less
The book deals with festivals and rituals at the Nepalese Paśupatnātha Temple located in Deopatan, the City of (all) Gods, and the Paśupatikṣetra, the “Field of Paśupati.” Paśupati, a form of Śiva, is regarded as the tutelary and protective deity of Nepal and his temple as both national and sacred monument that has since many centuries attracted thousands of pilgrims from India. After introducing the temple, its history, organisation and vicinity, all major festivals connected to it are thoroughly described and examined. The material used by the author includes mythological and eulogising texts, chronicles, inscriptions and elaborate field‐work studies. The book also deals with religious conflicts between different forms of Hinduism as well as with religious identities and contested priesthood. Due to the strength of various tantrically worshipped goddesses in Deopatan, Śiva comes under ritual pressure time and again. Underlining this religious tension are fundamental conflicts between the indigenous Newar population and the Nepali speaking population which originally immigrated from India or between the South Indian Bhaṭṭa priests and the Newar Karmācārya priests. Moreover, ritual forms of worship are contested, as in the instance of tantric forms of worship with alcohol and animal sacrifices versus pure, vegetarian forms of worship. In recent times these conflicts have increasingly been politicized and due to the impact of the World Heritage Monument policy the Paśupati area is successively restructured and shaped into a religious pilgrimage place for Indian and Western tourists.
SooJeong Ahn
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9789888083589
- eISBN:
- 9789882209268
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Hong Kong University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5790/hongkong/9789888083589.001.0001
- Subject:
- Film, Television and Radio, Film
This book provides a political and cultural exploration of the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea since its inception in 1996. Paying particular attention to the organizers' use of an ...
More
This book provides a political and cultural exploration of the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea since its inception in 1996. Paying particular attention to the organizers' use of an Asian regionalization strategy, the book reveals how the festival staked out a unique and influential position within a rapidly changing global landscape. Little empirical research has been conducted to date on non-Western film festivals, though PIFF and Tokyo and Hong Kong have swiftly grown more exciting and influential as testing grounds for global cinema innovations. The initiation, development and growth of PIFF should be understood as resulting from productive tensions in the festival's efforts to serve local, regional and national constituencies. The book also reflects the complexities of rapid transformation in the South Korean film industry as it has reached out to the global market since the late 1990s.Less
This book provides a political and cultural exploration of the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea since its inception in 1996. Paying particular attention to the organizers' use of an Asian regionalization strategy, the book reveals how the festival staked out a unique and influential position within a rapidly changing global landscape. Little empirical research has been conducted to date on non-Western film festivals, though PIFF and Tokyo and Hong Kong have swiftly grown more exciting and influential as testing grounds for global cinema innovations. The initiation, development and growth of PIFF should be understood as resulting from productive tensions in the festival's efforts to serve local, regional and national constituencies. The book also reflects the complexities of rapid transformation in the South Korean film industry as it has reached out to the global market since the late 1990s.
Anna J. Clark
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199226825
- eISBN:
- 9780191710278
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199226825.003.0005
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
This chapter examines different ways in which people came into contact with temples, statues, and other representations of divine qualities. It explores festivals and rites honouring divine ...
More
This chapter examines different ways in which people came into contact with temples, statues, and other representations of divine qualities. It explores festivals and rites honouring divine qualities; senate‐meetings in temples to divine qualities, and the extent to which this created opportunities for contemporaries and later writers to draw on the qualities in question; visits to artwork in temples; setting up statues of people in temples; the use of temples as reference points; and the reporting of prodigies involving temples or statues. The geographical and social range of those making surviving epigraphic dedications to individual divine qualities is explored. Taken together, these varied engagements show that divine qualities continued to be ‘good to think with’ for a variety of people both in and outside Rome, from senators to slaves.Less
This chapter examines different ways in which people came into contact with temples, statues, and other representations of divine qualities. It explores festivals and rites honouring divine qualities; senate‐meetings in temples to divine qualities, and the extent to which this created opportunities for contemporaries and later writers to draw on the qualities in question; visits to artwork in temples; setting up statues of people in temples; the use of temples as reference points; and the reporting of prodigies involving temples or statues. The geographical and social range of those making surviving epigraphic dedications to individual divine qualities is explored. Taken together, these varied engagements show that divine qualities continued to be ‘good to think with’ for a variety of people both in and outside Rome, from senators to slaves.
Kama Maclean
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195338942
- eISBN:
- 9780199867110
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195338942.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
While there are stark and obvious differences between the manner in which colonial and postcolonial governments manage the Kumbh Mela, there are also striking continuities. The capacity of the ...
More
While there are stark and obvious differences between the manner in which colonial and postcolonial governments manage the Kumbh Mela, there are also striking continuities. The capacity of the pilgrimages such as the Kumbh to act as a conduit for information as pilgrims move across regions to attend the festival, despite the obvious limitation that it speaks to predominantly Hindu audiences, is such that few governments declined to take advantage of it. Further, the defence of the mela from colonial excesses shows but one example of the manner in which “religion” came to constitute an important sphere of political activity.Less
While there are stark and obvious differences between the manner in which colonial and postcolonial governments manage the Kumbh Mela, there are also striking continuities. The capacity of the pilgrimages such as the Kumbh to act as a conduit for information as pilgrims move across regions to attend the festival, despite the obvious limitation that it speaks to predominantly Hindu audiences, is such that few governments declined to take advantage of it. Further, the defence of the mela from colonial excesses shows but one example of the manner in which “religion” came to constitute an important sphere of political activity.
Axel Michaels
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195343021
- eISBN:
- 9780199866984
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195343021.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
This Chapter introduces the reader to the topographical structure, the seats of the deities, the ritual specialists (priests, temple assistants, servants etc.), key forms of worship, temple ...
More
This Chapter introduces the reader to the topographical structure, the seats of the deities, the ritual specialists (priests, temple assistants, servants etc.), key forms of worship, temple organisation, and ascetic sects. It also gives an overview and classification of the festivals and rituals.Less
This Chapter introduces the reader to the topographical structure, the seats of the deities, the ritual specialists (priests, temple assistants, servants etc.), key forms of worship, temple organisation, and ascetic sects. It also gives an overview and classification of the festivals and rituals.
Nathan MacDonald
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199546527
- eISBN:
- 9780191720215
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199546527.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
In the book of Deuteronomy there is a close relationship between memory and food. To examine this relationship use is made of the anthropological work by David Sutton, Remembrance of Repasts. The ...
More
In the book of Deuteronomy there is a close relationship between memory and food. To examine this relationship use is made of the anthropological work by David Sutton, Remembrance of Repasts. The book of Deuteronomy is rhetorically poised between the wilderness and the Promised Land, and at this liminal point Deuteronomy uses food as a vehicle for articulating Israel's memory of Exodus, wilderness and Conquest. In doing so it makes a number of radical developments from the book of Exodus in its description of the Canaanite cult and in defining Israelite religion focused around pilgrimage feasts to the chosen cultic centre. It also defines the identity of the chosen people through narratives of hospitality or inhospitality that underline the Deuteronomic requirement to offer food to the poor and vulnerable.Less
In the book of Deuteronomy there is a close relationship between memory and food. To examine this relationship use is made of the anthropological work by David Sutton, Remembrance of Repasts. The book of Deuteronomy is rhetorically poised between the wilderness and the Promised Land, and at this liminal point Deuteronomy uses food as a vehicle for articulating Israel's memory of Exodus, wilderness and Conquest. In doing so it makes a number of radical developments from the book of Exodus in its description of the Canaanite cult and in defining Israelite religion focused around pilgrimage feasts to the chosen cultic centre. It also defines the identity of the chosen people through narratives of hospitality or inhospitality that underline the Deuteronomic requirement to offer food to the poor and vulnerable.
Wm. A. Little
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195394382
- eISBN:
- 9780199863556
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195394382.001.0001
- Subject:
- Music, History, Western, Performing Practice/Studies
Although Mendelssohn was most famous during his lifetime as a composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor, he also enjoyed an enviable reputation as a highly skilled organist. The instrument had ...
More
Although Mendelssohn was most famous during his lifetime as a composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor, he also enjoyed an enviable reputation as a highly skilled organist. The instrument had fascinated — one might almost say mesmerized — him from earliest youth, but aside from a year or so of formal training at the age of about 12 or 13, he was entirely self-taught. He never held a position as church organist, and never had any organ pupils. Nevertheless, the instrument played a uniquely important role in his personal life. In the course of his many travels, whether in major cities or tiny villages, he invariably gravitated to the organ loft, where he might spend hours playing the works of Bach or simply improvising. Although the piano clearly served Mendelssohn as an eminently practical instrument, the organ seems to have been his instrument of choice. He searched out an organ loft, not because he had to, but because he wanted to, because on the organ he could find catharsis. Indeed, as he once exclaimed to his parents after reading a portion of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell, “I must rush off to the monastery and work off my excitement on the organ!” Mendelssohn's public performance on the organ in Germany was rare, and he gave but one public recital: in the Thomas-Kirche in Leipzig in 1840. In England, however, he evidently felt more comfortable on the organ bench and played there often before large crowds. Indeed, he performed as Guest Organist twice at the Birmingham Music Festivals in 1837 and 1842. Given Mendelssohn's profound affinity for the organ, it is remarkable that he composed but relatively little for the instrument, and assigned an Opus number to only two works: his Three Preludes and Fugues for Organ (Op. 37) and his Six Sonatas for the Organ (Op. 65). A small number of organ works, plus sketches and drafts, were scattered among his musical papers; most of these only gradually found their way into print, and it was not until the late 20th century that an edition of his complete organ works was finally published. This volume is intended as a companion to that edition.Less
Although Mendelssohn was most famous during his lifetime as a composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor, he also enjoyed an enviable reputation as a highly skilled organist. The instrument had fascinated — one might almost say mesmerized — him from earliest youth, but aside from a year or so of formal training at the age of about 12 or 13, he was entirely self-taught. He never held a position as church organist, and never had any organ pupils. Nevertheless, the instrument played a uniquely important role in his personal life. In the course of his many travels, whether in major cities or tiny villages, he invariably gravitated to the organ loft, where he might spend hours playing the works of Bach or simply improvising. Although the piano clearly served Mendelssohn as an eminently practical instrument, the organ seems to have been his instrument of choice. He searched out an organ loft, not because he had to, but because he wanted to, because on the organ he could find catharsis. Indeed, as he once exclaimed to his parents after reading a portion of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell, “I must rush off to the monastery and work off my excitement on the organ!” Mendelssohn's public performance on the organ in Germany was rare, and he gave but one public recital: in the Thomas-Kirche in Leipzig in 1840. In England, however, he evidently felt more comfortable on the organ bench and played there often before large crowds. Indeed, he performed as Guest Organist twice at the Birmingham Music Festivals in 1837 and 1842. Given Mendelssohn's profound affinity for the organ, it is remarkable that he composed but relatively little for the instrument, and assigned an Opus number to only two works: his Three Preludes and Fugues for Organ (Op. 37) and his Six Sonatas for the Organ (Op. 65). A small number of organ works, plus sketches and drafts, were scattered among his musical papers; most of these only gradually found their way into print, and it was not until the late 20th century that an edition of his complete organ works was finally published. This volume is intended as a companion to that edition.
Andrea Rotstein
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199286270
- eISBN:
- 9780191713330
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199286270.003.0009
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Poetry and Poets: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter suggests that iamboi were a ‘performance framed by ritual’; that is to say, not directly playing a role in ritual, but not purely theatrical either. Accordingly, iamboi had a loose ...
More
This chapter suggests that iamboi were a ‘performance framed by ritual’; that is to say, not directly playing a role in ritual, but not purely theatrical either. Accordingly, iamboi had a loose connection to their various performance contexts, with entertainment playing an important role. They could be performed and re-performed at festivals and competitions, as well as on private or semi-private occasions (such as symposia). This proposition is examined with particular attention to evidence for the performance of iamboi on occasions other than symposia, namely religious festivals and mousikoi agones.Less
This chapter suggests that iamboi were a ‘performance framed by ritual’; that is to say, not directly playing a role in ritual, but not purely theatrical either. Accordingly, iamboi had a loose connection to their various performance contexts, with entertainment playing an important role. They could be performed and re-performed at festivals and competitions, as well as on private or semi-private occasions (such as symposia). This proposition is examined with particular attention to evidence for the performance of iamboi on occasions other than symposia, namely religious festivals and mousikoi agones.
Stuart Blackburn
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520202054
- eISBN:
- 9780520916807
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520202054.001.0001
- Subject:
- Anthropology, Asian Cultural Anthropology
This book travels inside a little-known form of shadow puppetry in this work about performing the Tamil version of the Ramayana epic, describing the skill and physical stamina of the puppeteers in ...
More
This book travels inside a little-known form of shadow puppetry in this work about performing the Tamil version of the Ramayana epic, describing the skill and physical stamina of the puppeteers in Kerala state in South India as they perform all night, for as many as ten weeks, during the festival season. The fact that these performances often take place without an audience forms the starting point for its discussion—one which explores not only this important epic tale and its performance, but also the broader theoretical issues of text, interpretation, and audience. The book demonstrates how the performers adapt the narrative and add their own commentary to re-create the story from a folk perspective. At a time when the Rama story is used to mobilize political movements in India, the puppeteers' elaborate recitation and commentary presents this controversial tale from another ethical perspective, one that advocates moral reciprocity and balance. While the study of folk narrative has until now focused on tales, tellers, and tellings, this work explores the importance of audience—absent or otherwise. Its translations of the most dramatic and pivotal sequences of the story enhance our appreciation of this unique example of performance art.Less
This book travels inside a little-known form of shadow puppetry in this work about performing the Tamil version of the Ramayana epic, describing the skill and physical stamina of the puppeteers in Kerala state in South India as they perform all night, for as many as ten weeks, during the festival season. The fact that these performances often take place without an audience forms the starting point for its discussion—one which explores not only this important epic tale and its performance, but also the broader theoretical issues of text, interpretation, and audience. The book demonstrates how the performers adapt the narrative and add their own commentary to re-create the story from a folk perspective. At a time when the Rama story is used to mobilize political movements in India, the puppeteers' elaborate recitation and commentary presents this controversial tale from another ethical perspective, one that advocates moral reciprocity and balance. While the study of folk narrative has until now focused on tales, tellers, and tellings, this work explores the importance of audience—absent or otherwise. Its translations of the most dramatic and pivotal sequences of the story enhance our appreciation of this unique example of performance art.
Rachel Harris
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197262979
- eISBN:
- 9780191734717
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197262979.003.0004
- Subject:
- Music, Ethnomusicology, World Music
This chapter examines the types and functions of Sibe music. It provides biographical sketches of village musicians including Ga'altu of the Anjia clan, Guo Rongxing, and a certain Shoulintai. The ...
More
This chapter examines the types and functions of Sibe music. It provides biographical sketches of village musicians including Ga'altu of the Anjia clan, Guo Rongxing, and a certain Shoulintai. The chapter highlights the social functions of songs and their role as vehicles of formalised expression of human relations in the Sibe community. It describes the songs and musical activities at weddings, funerals, and calendric festivals.Less
This chapter examines the types and functions of Sibe music. It provides biographical sketches of village musicians including Ga'altu of the Anjia clan, Guo Rongxing, and a certain Shoulintai. The chapter highlights the social functions of songs and their role as vehicles of formalised expression of human relations in the Sibe community. It describes the songs and musical activities at weddings, funerals, and calendric festivals.
Renée Levine Packer
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199730773
- eISBN:
- 9780199863532
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199730773.003.0003
- Subject:
- Music, Popular, History, American
This chapter describes the series of coincidences that led to the creation of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts; assembling the first group of Creative Associates by Lukas Foss and the ...
More
This chapter describes the series of coincidences that led to the creation of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts; assembling the first group of Creative Associates by Lukas Foss and the university's music department chairman Allen Sapp and their commitment to having an international mix of people in the group; the first Buffalo Festival of the Arts Today which, covered by Life and Time magazines, brings renown to the city of Buffalo as a haven for adventurous avant-garde music and art. Also discussed is the turmoil of the early days of the group's residency at the university, prompting manifestos and demands for improved artistic and administrative procedures; the residencies of Italian composer Sylvano Bussotti and composer-pianists David Tudor and Cornelius Cardew; the recording of Terry Riley's In C for Columbia Records; and the frequent visits of composer John Cage.Less
This chapter describes the series of coincidences that led to the creation of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts; assembling the first group of Creative Associates by Lukas Foss and the university's music department chairman Allen Sapp and their commitment to having an international mix of people in the group; the first Buffalo Festival of the Arts Today which, covered by Life and Time magazines, brings renown to the city of Buffalo as a haven for adventurous avant-garde music and art. Also discussed is the turmoil of the early days of the group's residency at the university, prompting manifestos and demands for improved artistic and administrative procedures; the residencies of Italian composer Sylvano Bussotti and composer-pianists David Tudor and Cornelius Cardew; the recording of Terry Riley's In C for Columbia Records; and the frequent visits of composer John Cage.
Daniel Peretti
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9781496814586
- eISBN:
- 9781496814623
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781496814586.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Culture
Many artists draw upon folklore to craft films, music, literature, and other elements of popular culture. This book examines how the opposite phenomenon occurs: the use of popular culture in the ...
More
Many artists draw upon folklore to craft films, music, literature, and other elements of popular culture. This book examines how the opposite phenomenon occurs: the use of popular culture in the expressive culture called folklore. Superman is an ideal focus for such as study because of his ubiquity. Though Superman is under the control of a corporation, fans nonetheless have developed a sense of ownership of him, often because of an affinity they feel toward him. Early chapters of this book explore the varieties of this affinity as experienced by individuals and as understood through interviews. Later chapters delve into specific events, such as the Superman Celebration in Illinois, and other modes of expression such as humor, personal narrative, and myth. Superman in Myth and Folklore explores the idea that a fictional character can be foundationally important in morality through fieldwork and interviews. In other words, fans use Superman to think through complex issues in their personal lives, and this book explores how. Despite the focus on fieldwork, there is some attention to the extant literature on Superman, ranging from educational works on science to psychology and history. There is also attention to the mythical aspects of Superman, with analyses of the character through several theories such as structuralism and functionalism. By examining jokes, festival, costuming, and narrative, this book explores the impact a fictional character can have.Less
Many artists draw upon folklore to craft films, music, literature, and other elements of popular culture. This book examines how the opposite phenomenon occurs: the use of popular culture in the expressive culture called folklore. Superman is an ideal focus for such as study because of his ubiquity. Though Superman is under the control of a corporation, fans nonetheless have developed a sense of ownership of him, often because of an affinity they feel toward him. Early chapters of this book explore the varieties of this affinity as experienced by individuals and as understood through interviews. Later chapters delve into specific events, such as the Superman Celebration in Illinois, and other modes of expression such as humor, personal narrative, and myth. Superman in Myth and Folklore explores the idea that a fictional character can be foundationally important in morality through fieldwork and interviews. In other words, fans use Superman to think through complex issues in their personal lives, and this book explores how. Despite the focus on fieldwork, there is some attention to the extant literature on Superman, ranging from educational works on science to psychology and history. There is also attention to the mythical aspects of Superman, with analyses of the character through several theories such as structuralism and functionalism. By examining jokes, festival, costuming, and narrative, this book explores the impact a fictional character can have.
Mandy Sadan
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780197265550
- eISBN:
- 9780191760341
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197265550.003.0010
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter considers the manau as both a symbol of modern Kachin ethno-nationalism and as a vector for understanding some of its local, regional, and historical complexities. It considers the ...
More
This chapter considers the manau as both a symbol of modern Kachin ethno-nationalism and as a vector for understanding some of its local, regional, and historical complexities. It considers the recent developments of these festivals in India, Burma, Yunnan, and Thailand as a way of understanding how local and regional dynamics affect the relationships between Singpho, Kachin, and Jingpo communities across the region. The chapter begins by explaining the modern emergence of the manau festival from the colonial period onwards, looking in detail at the aesthetic symbolism of the form in different contexts. This enables us to appreciate the constantly evolving and discursive nature of this form by exploring multiple events separated by both distance and time. It suggests that the manau has managed to attain and sustain its relevance because of its transformative capacities.Less
This chapter considers the manau as both a symbol of modern Kachin ethno-nationalism and as a vector for understanding some of its local, regional, and historical complexities. It considers the recent developments of these festivals in India, Burma, Yunnan, and Thailand as a way of understanding how local and regional dynamics affect the relationships between Singpho, Kachin, and Jingpo communities across the region. The chapter begins by explaining the modern emergence of the manau festival from the colonial period onwards, looking in detail at the aesthetic symbolism of the form in different contexts. This enables us to appreciate the constantly evolving and discursive nature of this form by exploring multiple events separated by both distance and time. It suggests that the manau has managed to attain and sustain its relevance because of its transformative capacities.
Constance Valis Hill
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195390827
- eISBN:
- 9780199863563
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195390827.003.0010
- Subject:
- Music, History, American, Dance
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Gregory Hines and veteran hoofers Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Slyde, Harold Nicholas, Arthur Duncan, and Sandman Sims in the 1989 film Tap. The movie ...
More
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Gregory Hines and veteran hoofers Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Slyde, Harold Nicholas, Arthur Duncan, and Sandman Sims in the 1989 film Tap. The movie culminated the decade in which tap dance came back with a rhythm-cutting vengeance—on Broadway, in the movies, on television, and on festival and concert stages. If tap had “died” in the 1950s and 1960s, then the sheer number of 1980s tap-dancing musicals, and musicals with tap-dancing stars, on and off Broadway, was staggering proof of tap’s resurrection. The 1980s saw the meteoric rise of Gregory Hines as rhythm tap’s most venerable star who would carry the tradition forward as an artist, producer, promoter, and ambassador of this American vernacular dance form. Newly emerging women in tap organized festivals, founded and directed companies, choreographed new tap works, codified techniques, and brought more women onto the concert stage.Less
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Gregory Hines and veteran hoofers Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Slyde, Harold Nicholas, Arthur Duncan, and Sandman Sims in the 1989 film Tap. The movie culminated the decade in which tap dance came back with a rhythm-cutting vengeance—on Broadway, in the movies, on television, and on festival and concert stages. If tap had “died” in the 1950s and 1960s, then the sheer number of 1980s tap-dancing musicals, and musicals with tap-dancing stars, on and off Broadway, was staggering proof of tap’s resurrection. The 1980s saw the meteoric rise of Gregory Hines as rhythm tap’s most venerable star who would carry the tradition forward as an artist, producer, promoter, and ambassador of this American vernacular dance form. Newly emerging women in tap organized festivals, founded and directed companies, choreographed new tap works, codified techniques, and brought more women onto the concert stage.
Constance Valis Hill
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195390827
- eISBN:
- 9780199863563
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195390827.003.0011
- Subject:
- Music, History, American, Dance
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Colin Dunn and Savion Glover on the 39th Annual Grammy Awards and the percussive dance traditions—Irish step dancing and African American rhythm ...
More
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Colin Dunn and Savion Glover on the 39th Annual Grammy Awards and the percussive dance traditions—Irish step dancing and African American rhythm tap—to which each belonged. While the Afro-Irish challenge came from an old tradition, the 1990s burst with the “new”: new sounds from the recycling of old steps, layering of sound, young talent, and choreography. The decade saw a rise in tap festivals and jams. A new breed of “hitters” was led by superstar Glover; Gregory Hines; and veteran hoofers. Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk inspired hundreds of young dancers to don thick-soled tap shoes and hit the streets. Disciples of Glover’s hard-hitting style, who would stake independent careers to move tap forward, would include Ayodele Casel, Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Omar Edwards, and Baakari Wilder.Less
This chapter begins with a tap challenge between Colin Dunn and Savion Glover on the 39th Annual Grammy Awards and the percussive dance traditions—Irish step dancing and African American rhythm tap—to which each belonged. While the Afro-Irish challenge came from an old tradition, the 1990s burst with the “new”: new sounds from the recycling of old steps, layering of sound, young talent, and choreography. The decade saw a rise in tap festivals and jams. A new breed of “hitters” was led by superstar Glover; Gregory Hines; and veteran hoofers. Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk inspired hundreds of young dancers to don thick-soled tap shoes and hit the streets. Disciples of Glover’s hard-hitting style, who would stake independent careers to move tap forward, would include Ayodele Casel, Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Omar Edwards, and Baakari Wilder.
