CHORUS 2023
In taberna quando sumus
In taberna quando sumus
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... Here are briefly explained the contents of the Codex Buranus, a splendid German manuscript of the thirteenth century containing the poems and music that the clerici vagantes sang in the streets and taverns, in the study rooms or wherever they had the opportunity to do so. The codex is divided into four parts: the Carmina moralia (CB: 1-55), poems and songs of satirical and moral subjects, the Carmina veris et amoris (CB: 56-186), poems and songs of love, the Carmina lusorum et potatorum (CB: 187-226), containing Bacchic and convivial songs and finally the most recent part of the manuscript, namely the Carmina divina, poems of criticism on the corruption of the clergy. The lyrics were written in medieval Latin as well as in high German, the contents of the songs are very explicit, ranging from well-known Bacchic hymns to decidedly erotic love songs, there are "blasphemous" parodies of the liturgy and criticisms of the Roman curia , always dedicated to the search for wealth and power.
The goliardic class is believed to have arisen from the need of younger sons to develop means of support. The medieval social convention of primogeniture meant that the eldest son inherited title and estate.[7] This practice of bestowing the rights of inheritance upon the eldest son left younger sons to seek other means by which to support themselves. Often, these younger sons went, or were sent, to the universities and monasteries of the day, where theology and preparation for clergy careers were a major focus.[7] Once the students had taken the minor orders, they began to follow the lessons they considered most valid through real pilgrimages from one university to another with the aim of studying and learning directly from the best teachers. There were born the clerici vagantes, wandering students who had access to prestigious university knowledge and who, wandering around Europe, with the goliardic spirit that still distinguishes university students today, scattering knowledge through their songs and poems, often moving heavily criticism on the ecclesiastical and state system. Many of the melodies of the Codex Buranus were born as sacred songs or "crusade" but within these songs modifications were made of their contents becoming hymns to Bacchus or parodies of religious services with lots of litanies along the lines of the Catholic ones with interruptions of giggles, sneezing and much more . |