Performance and Text in the Italian Carolingian Tradition
Antonio Scuderi
Performance and Text in the Italian Carolingian Tradition Antonio Scuderi Truman State University [*eCompanion at www.oraltradition.org 1 ] One of most fascinating aspects chivalric-epic tradition Italy is historical dialectic between its manifestations as oral performance written text. Based primarily on lore, traditions influenced each other a symbiotic dialogue across centuries. John Miles Foley, one leading experts world epic traditions, discusses interaction processes his book, The Singer Tales Performance: "The old model Great Divide orality literacy has given way quarters, pointing toward accompanying demise absolutist dichotomy versus document. . Consequently, text can no longer be separated out something different by species from it records or draws upon; question becomes not whether but how document speak to another" (1995:79). lore will primary focus this study. Special attention 1) cantari, medieval poems that hail back beginnings literature; 2) performances Sicilian cunto, which up until early part twentieth century were still living tradition. Italy, both written, based French chansons de geste, particular Chanson Roland. Foley asserts geste originally oral-derived texts: "Behind these manuscript-prisoned epics stands composition transmission singers tales, called jongleurs, although clerical scribal activity intervened various ways record" (2002:177). With specific reference [End Page 68] Oxford manuscript Roland, he explains "derives some fashion retains structures textures typical poetry We know only dating about 1100, it's without doubt an poem" (2002:177-78). with extensive scholarship astute methodology subject, lends authoritative contemporary voice issue. But belief derived certainly new. 2 Cantari It believed stories songs France came into twelfth merchants traveling northern central for commerce pilgrims their Rome, especially via minstrels whom may have accompanied travelers. 3 These would include war such Roland; Arthurian romances; lyric poetry. Important evidence popularity chivalric during time provided important figures, Saint Francis Assisi (1182-1226), son merchant. was enamored sang troubadour deeds Provençal. His sermons popular audiences often register, using knight's code honor metaphor Christian life (Cardini 1989; Frugoni 1995). tales began down form interest study, cantare (pl. -i, "to sing"), consists verses octaves. Cantare refers poem well internal divisions. earliest extant manuscripts date 1340s. Most likely literate cantarini (cantari performers) who wrote first thus standard structural features, discussed below, are performance-derived. mostly 69] extent Arthurian, sources cantari. Later, fifteenth century, we find...
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