Tractus stellae

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Tractus Stellae
Date premiered11th century (Zagreb manuscript MR 165)
Original language Latin
SubjectJourney of the three magi to Bethlehem
Genre Liturgical drama
SettingEpiphany matins

Tractus Stellae (The Path of the Star) is a medieval liturgical drama written in Latin with musical notation, about the journey of the three Magi to Bethlehem.

It is one of two liturgical dramas included in an 11th-century manuscript from the library of Zagreb Cathedral (manuscript codex MR 165), the other being Visitatio Sepulchri. Collectively the two works are known as Agenda Pontificalis Hartwick Arduini episcopi Jauriensis, in reference to Bishop Hartvik, who is usually connected to the city of Győr, with the book transferring from there to Zagreb around 1094. The drama also appears in different forms in later medieval manuscripts, including a 13th-century manuscript from Rouen (MS Paris, BN lat. 904), known as Officium Stellae, and in another originally held in Malmédy. This lends to the theory that the Benedictine monks at Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary were the original writers of the play, in view of their close links to the church in those places. [1]

The drama was intended to be performed at the matins service on Epiphany, the feast day that celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. [2] [3]

The drama begins with a processional song, Procedentem sponsum, and continues with a dialogue between the Magi and King Herod, who sends them to search for the newborn king. In the second scene, the star guides the magi to Bethlehem where they greet baby Jesus and offer him gifts. The piece ends with an ornate Te Deum and an O Regem caelis as the antiphon. [3] The play was designed to take place in three parts of the church: at the altar, in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary, and at Herod's throne, placed in the centre of the church. The play's stage directions are detailed. [4]

Contemporary recordings

Music recordings of the drama include a plainchant version by the Hungarian Schola Hungarica (Hungaroton, 1985) [5] and a longer version with instrumentation by the Estonian ensemble Hortus Musicus (Melodiya, 1989). [3]

References

  1. ↑ Karsai, Géza (1943). Középkori vízkereszti játékok. A győri "Tractus stellae" és rokonai[Medieval games over the water. The "Tractus stellae" of Győr and its relatives] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Szt. István Társ. OCLC   1088137453.
  2. ↑ Pelc, Milan (2015). "Tractus stellae: the "Image" of the Virgin with the Child in the Zagreb Cathedral from the 11th/12th Century (book chapter)". Scripta in honorem Igor Fisković: zbornik povodom sedamdesetog rođendana [Written in honour of Igor Fisković 70th birthday collection]. Zagreb: Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, (FF-Press). p. 65–74. doi:10.17234/9789531755887.7. ISBN   978-953-175-588-7. OCLC   964385255 . Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hortus Musicus - Itaalia tantsud XIV sajandi käsikirjadest ; Liturgiline draama "Tractus Stellae" XI sajandi Zagrebi käsikirjas" [Hortus Musicus - Italian dances from 14th century manuscripts; Liturgical drama "Tractus Stellae" in 11th century Zagreb manuscript (LP - record sleeve information written by Toomas Siitan)]. E-raamatupood (in Estonian). February 21, 2025. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ Szönyi, György E. (1981). "European Influences and National Tradition in Medieval Hungarian Theater". Comparative Drama. 15 (2). Comparative Drama: 159–172. ISSN   0010-4078. JSTOR   41152945 . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Hungaroton, 1985, Epiphany – Gregorian Chants - Vízkereszt SLPD/HCD 12559 (Catalogue of Schola Hungarica)" (PDF). egyhazzene.hu (website of the Hungarian Church Music Society and the Department of Church Music, Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music). Budapest. pp. 7–8. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
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