Posted by Jason on January 11, 2000 at 12:12:19:
In Reply to: Dance posted by markos on January 08, 2000 at 01:15:37:
:
: of Death, or Totem Tanz, was a custom believed to have originated in France, which then filtered
: into Germany, Italy, Spain, and England. It was carried on throughout the middle ages, and was
: at its peak during the 14th and 15th centuries, when many references to it appear in songs,
: poems, and dramas, or are depicted on murals in cemeteries, churches, cloisters, and vaults.
: The Dance of Death reveals the great preoccupation of mankind during this period with death.
: Legends of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts were found throughout Europe during the Dark Ages,
: and many customs had been devised to prevent the dead from returning. These included binding
: together the feet of the dead, driving nails into their feet, carrying on a death watch and
: singing and performing games and dances during wakes or after the grave had received the corpse.
: Particularly in Northern European countries, it was customary for those rites to include music and
: and dancing. The belief was that music exorcised the dead, forced them into compliance at being
: taken to the grave, and prevented them from walking the earth again; church bells were thought
: to drive demons away, and to comfort and protect the dead (Backman).
I seem to remember a lithograph from the the time period you mention. It was an image of a variety of animals walking/dancing while towing a dead hunter. I remember looking at the image and listening to Franz Liszt (<-- spelling unsure). It created a very dark, but "soothing" mood. I have since been attracted to that feeling. I'm not sure why we find comfort in these things -- I believe it has something to do with our desire to know something from the Beyond.
I know that all I might see is a carcass, but that empty vessel forces a desire in me to extend my awareness to what lies "ahead" or "above" or "beyond" or even "deeper."