De invloed van de dood op de muziek van de 14de eeuw

Rituals of death permeated the culture of late medieval Europe. The Gregorian chant Media vita in morte sumus ("In the midst of life we are in death"), for example, set a sombre tone at beginning of Lent, its text reminding sinners to look to the Lord for their salvation. The Eucharistic liturgy upheld Christ's resurrection after a violent death as the proof of humanity's redemption. The cult of saints celebrated the deaths of martyrs whose treasured bodily relics were displayed in churches or processed through the streets to the sound of chant. Memorials to the faithful had become a part of the daily routine of cathedrals at the heart of every city. Generous endowments filled the pockets of singers, who were increasingly required to be well trained in polyphonic music performance. Yet, these ritualised tokens of death paled in comparison to ever-present reminders of the fragility of life.