Scene 10
p. 78
carnival -
Carnival, the merrymaking and festivity that takes place in many Roman Catholic countries in the last days and hours before the Lenten season. The derivation of the word is uncertain, though it possibly can be traced to the medieval Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat. This coincides with the fact that Carnival is the final festivity before the commencement of the austere 40 days of Lent, during which Roman Catholics in earlier times fasted, abstained from eating meat, and followed other ascetic practices. The subversive nature of the party is reflected in the many laws created over the centuries in Italy attempting to restrict celebrations and often banning the wearing of masks.The historical origin of Carnival is also obscure. It possibly has its roots in a primitive festival honouring the beginning of the new year and the rebirth of nature, though it is also possible that the beginnings of Carnival in Italy may be linked to the pagan Saturnalian festival of ancient Rome. In earlier times Rome was most conspicuous as the centre of Carnival activity, and the splendour and richness of the festivity that marked its observance there were scarcely surpassed elsewhere. In its long history Carnival played a significant role in the development of popular theatre, vernacular song, and folk dances.
guilds' carnival processions -
The oligarchic form of government during the republic excluded from power all non-noble Venetian families. There were, however, other ways in which ordinary Venetians could participate in public life. One of these was through the scuole, six major and numerous minor philanthropic confraternities and guilds that originated in the 13th century. Each school had a two-story meeting hall used for gatherings of its members and for discharging its charitable functions.
'Ye horrible doctrine and opinions of Messer Galileo Galilei, physicist to the court, or A Foretaste of ye Future' -
Italian Canto Carnascialesco, plural Canti Carnascialeschi, late 15th- and early 16th-century part song performed in Florence during the carnival season. The Florentines celebrated not only the pre-Lenten revelry but also the Calendimaggio, which began on May 1 and ended with the Feast of St. John on June 24. An essential part of the festivities was the singing and dancing of secular songs by masked merrymakers. Under Lorenzo de’ Medici (ruled 1469–92) the carnival celebrations became more intense and elaborate, and, as a result of his leadership and encouragement, the court also took a more active part. Lorenzo himself wrote poems to be sung by his courtiers as well as by guild members, the former performing songs based on stories taken from mythology and the latter basing their repertoire on subjects of a more current and popular appeal. The texts often contained double-entendres and playful obscenities, or mocked certain social customs. Some texts were more serious however, dealing with such subjects as mathematics or the four temperaments. During the reign of Savonarola, all secular aspects of the festivals were abolished, and thus the Canti went into decline. After the return of the Medici to power, the secular aspects were reinstated and the carnival songs went through another popular phase that helps to mark them as one of the important musical forms in Florentine history.
Genesis -
Genesis, Hebrew Bereshit (“In the Beginning”), the first book of the Old Testament. Its name derives from the opening words: “In the beginning….” Genesis narrates the primeval history of the world (chapters 1–11) and the patriarchal history of the Israelite people (chapters 12–50). The primeval history includes the familiar stories of the Creation, the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel.
p. 79
'On earth as it is in heaven.'
the Lord's Prayer; Matthew 6:10; full quote: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Great Order -
Great Chain of Being, also called Chain of Being, conception of the nature of the universe that had a pervasive influence on Western thought, particularly through the ancient Greek Neoplatonists and derivative philosophies during the European Renaissance and the 17th and early 18th centuries. The term denotes three general features of the universe: plenitude, continuity, and gradation. The principle of plenitude states that the universe is “full,” exhibiting the maximal diversity of kinds of existences; everything possible (i.e., not self-contradictory) is actual. The principle of continuity asserts that the universe is composed of an infinite series of forms, each of which shares with its neighbour at least one attribute. According to the principle of linear gradation, this series ranges in hierarchical order from the barest type of existence to the ens perfectissimum, or God.
It details a strict, religious hierarchical structure of all matter and life, believed to have been decreed by God. The chain starts from God and progresses downward to angels, demons (fallen/renegade angels), stars, moon, kings, princes, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, trees, other plants, precious stones, precious metals, and other minerals.
ordo ordinum -
Latin for "rank"
regula aeternis -
Latin for "eternal rules"
creatio dei -
Latin for "God's creation"
Excerpted from Encyclopedia Britannica and the Bible
carnival -
Carnival, the merrymaking and festivity that takes place in many Roman Catholic countries in the last days and hours before the Lenten season. The derivation of the word is uncertain, though it possibly can be traced to the medieval Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat. This coincides with the fact that Carnival is the final festivity before the commencement of the austere 40 days of Lent, during which Roman Catholics in earlier times fasted, abstained from eating meat, and followed other ascetic practices. The subversive nature of the party is reflected in the many laws created over the centuries in Italy attempting to restrict celebrations and often banning the wearing of masks.The historical origin of Carnival is also obscure. It possibly has its roots in a primitive festival honouring the beginning of the new year and the rebirth of nature, though it is also possible that the beginnings of Carnival in Italy may be linked to the pagan Saturnalian festival of ancient Rome. In earlier times Rome was most conspicuous as the centre of Carnival activity, and the splendour and richness of the festivity that marked its observance there were scarcely surpassed elsewhere. In its long history Carnival played a significant role in the development of popular theatre, vernacular song, and folk dances.
guilds' carnival processions -
The oligarchic form of government during the republic excluded from power all non-noble Venetian families. There were, however, other ways in which ordinary Venetians could participate in public life. One of these was through the scuole, six major and numerous minor philanthropic confraternities and guilds that originated in the 13th century. Each school had a two-story meeting hall used for gatherings of its members and for discharging its charitable functions.
'Ye horrible doctrine and opinions of Messer Galileo Galilei, physicist to the court, or A Foretaste of ye Future' -
Italian Canto Carnascialesco, plural Canti Carnascialeschi, late 15th- and early 16th-century part song performed in Florence during the carnival season. The Florentines celebrated not only the pre-Lenten revelry but also the Calendimaggio, which began on May 1 and ended with the Feast of St. John on June 24. An essential part of the festivities was the singing and dancing of secular songs by masked merrymakers. Under Lorenzo de’ Medici (ruled 1469–92) the carnival celebrations became more intense and elaborate, and, as a result of his leadership and encouragement, the court also took a more active part. Lorenzo himself wrote poems to be sung by his courtiers as well as by guild members, the former performing songs based on stories taken from mythology and the latter basing their repertoire on subjects of a more current and popular appeal. The texts often contained double-entendres and playful obscenities, or mocked certain social customs. Some texts were more serious however, dealing with such subjects as mathematics or the four temperaments. During the reign of Savonarola, all secular aspects of the festivals were abolished, and thus the Canti went into decline. After the return of the Medici to power, the secular aspects were reinstated and the carnival songs went through another popular phase that helps to mark them as one of the important musical forms in Florentine history.
Genesis -
Genesis, Hebrew Bereshit (“In the Beginning”), the first book of the Old Testament. Its name derives from the opening words: “In the beginning….” Genesis narrates the primeval history of the world (chapters 1–11) and the patriarchal history of the Israelite people (chapters 12–50). The primeval history includes the familiar stories of the Creation, the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel.
p. 79
'On earth as it is in heaven.'
the Lord's Prayer; Matthew 6:10; full quote: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Great Order -
Great Chain of Being, also called Chain of Being, conception of the nature of the universe that had a pervasive influence on Western thought, particularly through the ancient Greek Neoplatonists and derivative philosophies during the European Renaissance and the 17th and early 18th centuries. The term denotes three general features of the universe: plenitude, continuity, and gradation. The principle of plenitude states that the universe is “full,” exhibiting the maximal diversity of kinds of existences; everything possible (i.e., not self-contradictory) is actual. The principle of continuity asserts that the universe is composed of an infinite series of forms, each of which shares with its neighbour at least one attribute. According to the principle of linear gradation, this series ranges in hierarchical order from the barest type of existence to the ens perfectissimum, or God.
It details a strict, religious hierarchical structure of all matter and life, believed to have been decreed by God. The chain starts from God and progresses downward to angels, demons (fallen/renegade angels), stars, moon, kings, princes, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, trees, other plants, precious stones, precious metals, and other minerals.
ordo ordinum -
Latin for "rank"
regula aeternis -
Latin for "eternal rules"
creatio dei -
Latin for "God's creation"
Excerpted from Encyclopedia Britannica and the Bible