Williams, Michael Stuart
(2013)
Hymns as Acclamations: The Case of Ambrose of Milan.
Journal of Late Antiquity, 6 (1).
pp. 108-134.
ISSN 1939-6716
Abstract
The hymns of Ambrose of Milan may usefully be seen in the context of
other forms of rhythmic chant and song found in the social world of the
Roman Empire: above all, they may be connected with popular songs and
with acclamations, whether theatrical, political, or religious. Ambrose’s
hymns in particular share with songs and acclamations a number of formal
features, being regular in form and based on accentual stress patterns
rather than quantitative meter, and being similarly intended for popular
and untrained participation. The most important parallel, however, lies
in what may be called their function or effect: for just as did songs and
acclamations, Ambrose’s hymns demonstrated and articulated the unity
of a diverse population by allowing the constituents to express themselves
in a single voice. What the hymns may have lacked in spontaneity — being
complex and pre-composed — they gained in direction and discipline, so
that Ambrose was able to exploit the unity and harmony of his congregation
in support of his own political and religious aims. Ambrose’s hymns
thus reconfigured songs and acclamations as a means of establishing and
promoting a Milanese Christian identity and of affirming his own popular
authority and legitimacy.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Additional Information: |
Copyright © 2013 The Johns Hopkins University Press. This article first appeared in the Journal of Late Antiquity, Volume 6, Issue 1 (Spring), 2013, pages 108-134. |
| Keywords: |
Hymns; Ambrose of Milan; Roman music; early Christianity; history; ancient; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > Ancient Classics |
| Item ID: |
4605 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1353/jla.2013.0006 |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Michael Williams
|
| Date Deposited: |
19 Nov 2013 15:18 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Journal of Late Antiquity |
| Publisher: |
John Hopkins University Press |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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