History of Music, Mr. Robert L. Johnston

St. Francis (Francesco Bernadone) as Troubador and Assisi

Aim:

What similarities did Francis’ life (both before and after his conversion have with the life of a troubador?

Instructional Objectives:

At the conclusion of this unit, students will:

  1. Have reviewed secular song.
  2. Have been reintroduced to Francis.
  3. Have made a brief connection to Francis’ lifestyle and his connection with the life of a troubador and the lifestyle of the French.
  4. Have examined the Canticle of Creation (Canticle of the Sun) as secular song.
  5. Have gained a visual perspective of modern day Assisi through pictures and personal experiences.
  6. Have gained a stronger hold on Francis and the tenets of Franciscanism as we approach the Feast of St. Francis.

Motivation:

Play one of the many “pop” versions of the Prayer of St. Francis and make connections with secular song.

Do note, this particular prayer was most likely written in the early 20th century ironically, as you will see, in France.

Development/Procedures:

  1. Review of secular song
  2. It is the direct ancestor of today’s popular music.
  3. It was a musical expression of non-religious (non-sacred) life.
  4. It flourished in France and Germany during the Middle Ages (Miller)
  5. Miller lists the following characteristics of secular song:
  6. Monophonic
  7. A better way to clarify this is there were no backup singers.
  8. Pictorial evidence shows instrumental accompaniment, probably improvised.
  9. Metrical and mostly in triple meter.
  10. Strong and regular rhythmic feel.
  11. Used recurrent and short rhythmic patterns.
  12. Clear phrase structure (musical sentences).
  13. Clear sectional structure with verses and refrains.
  14. Used the Church modes, but favored the Ionian and Aeolian modes.
  15. Sung mostly in the vernacular.
  16. Dealt with a wide range of subjects in different forms. (Miller)
  17. A love poem (canso).
  18. A plaint or lament on the death of an eminent person (planh).
  1. Francis
  2. Many believe his real name was John, but given his father’s affinity to France and the French, he was called by the name Francis.
  3. His father (Pietro) was an extremely wealthy cloth merchant who often traveled to France on business.
  4. Francis often wore extravagant and colorful clothes of expensive fabric.
  5. Francis was, into his 20’s, a typical young Italian man, often partying as well as paying his friends’ way.
  6. Part of his “party personality” was that he sang quite often (remember, there are no juke boxes, etc.) and often sang French troubador songs.
  1. Canticle of the Creatures (Canticle of the Sun)
  2. The poem, most likely the first of its kind in the vernacular, was written at various stages towards the end of Francis’ life.
  3. In the Umbrian dialect:

Altissimu onnipotente bon signore. tue so le laude la gloria e l onore et onne benedictione. Ad te solo altissimo se konfano. et nullu homo ene dignu te mentouare.

Laudato sie mi signore cum tucte le tue creature spetialmente messor lo frate sole. lo quale iorno et allumini per loi. Et ellu e bellu e radiante cum grande splendore. de te altissimo porta significatione.

Laudato si mi signore per sora luna e le stelle. in celu l ai formate et pretiose et belle.

Laudato si mi signore per frate uento et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo. per lo quale a le tue creature dai sustentamento.

Laudato si mi signore per sor acqua. la quale e multo utile et humile et pretiosa. et casta.

Laudato si mi signore per per frate focu. per lo quale ennallumini la nocte. ed ello e bello et iucundo et robusto et forte.

Laudato si mi signore per sora nostra matre terra. la quale ne sustenta et gouerna. et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fiore et herba.

Laudato si mi signore per quelli ke perdonano per lo tue amore. et sostengo infirmitate et tribulatione. beati quelli ke l sosterranno in pace. ka da te altissimo sirano incoronati.

Laudato si mi signore per sora nostra morte corporale. da la quale nulla homo uiuente po skappare. guai a cquelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali. beati quelli ke trouara ne le tue sanctissime uoluntati ka la morte secunda nol farra male.

Laudate et benedicete mi signore et rengratiate et seruiteli cum grande humilitate.

(Michele Faloci Pulignani (ed.). Il Cantico del Sole di San Francesco di Assisi. Foligno: Tipografia di Pieter Sgariglia, 1888, pp. 10-11.)

  1. The composer, Sofia Gubaidulina gives the following outline of the formal sections:
  2. Glorification of the Creator, and His Creations - the Sun and the Moon
  3. Glorification of the Creator, the Maker of the four elements: air, water, fire and earth
  4. Glorification of life
  5. Glorification of death
  6. Examine the Canticle as presented in English by the Santuario di San Damiano in Assisi.
  7. The stanza, “Praised be You my Lord, for those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, by You Most High, they will be crowned,” was added by Francis to aid in resolving a dispute between the Bishop and secular leaders in Assisi.
  8. The stanza, “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will, no second death can do them harm,” was added just prior to Francis’ death.
  1. A brief word about Francis and Cimabue
  2. Cenni di Pepo (Giovanni) Cimabue (ca. 1240-ca. 1302)
  3. Born in Florence
  4. Last great painter of the Byzantine tradition
  5. Was a pioneer in the move towards naturalism
  6. His figures were depicted with rather more life-like proportions and shading
  7. Teacher of Giotto, who painted the frescoes in the Upper Basilica
  8. In the Lower Basilica is a fresco, depicting The Madonna and Christ Child enthroned with angels and Saint Francis
  9. This is considered the best artistic likeness to Francis
  10. The Madonna of St. Francis

  1. Also in the Lower Basilica is the Tomb of St. Francis
  1. Pictures and Reflections

Materials of Instruction:

Smart Board

Canticle of the Creatures as illustrated by Piero Casentini

Summary:

Francis, in many ways was as representative of the secular world as he was of the world he created after his conversion. His sense of song and its inherent beauty spanned both these worlds and perhaps, there is a lesson for us in his embrace of music.

Assisi is a magical place, regardless of your faith or beliefs. Many world religions hold it in special esteem as a holy place, and the world still visits it today.

Assignment:

Spend time alone reflecting on the efforts of Francis as they relate to the world today.

Bibliography:

On the Road with Francis of Assisi, Linda Bird Francke, Random House, New York. 2005

St. Francis of Assisi, G.K. Chesterton, Image Books, Doubleday, New York. 1924

Pilgrims Companion to Franciscan Places, Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, Editrice Minerva – Assisi.

In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare, Roch Niemier, O.F.M., St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati. 2006

Canticle of the Creatures, Santuario di San Damiano, Assisi. 2005

Suggested Reference:

On the Road with Francis of Assisi, Linda Bird Francke, Random House, New York. 2005

In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare, Roch Niemier, O.F.M., St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati. 2006

Robert L. Johnston