Abstract
This article argues that modern examples of the Devil as a player of plucked and bowed stringed instruments extend early medieval representations of the Devil’s music as a powerfully persuasive force that can be used to draw souls toward Satan and, conversely, to defend against his musical machinations. By examining Homily x of the Vercelli Book (c. tenth century) in relation to early medieval music theory, the legend of St. Dunstan, and modern examples of the fiddle-playing Devil, this article demonstrates that the musical Devil and his opponents show every sign of sustaining the motif’s power into the future.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 573-596 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Religion and the Arts |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2023 |
Keywords
- Boethius
- Devil
- Dunstan (saint)
- Old English
- Satan
- Vercelli Homily x
- fiddle
- guitar
- harp
- medieval
- music
- violin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cultural Studies
- Visual Arts and Performing Arts
- History
- Religious studies