EL MISTERIO DE ELCHE (THE MYSTERY OF ELCHE)
On Saturday 14th "live" broacast of "La VESPRA" from 18h
On Sunday 15th "live" broadacst of "La FESTA" from 18h
The Festival or Misterio de Elche is a sacred-religious drama that stems from medieval roots and which recreates the death, assumption and coronation of the Virgin Mary. The play is divided into two acts and takes place on August 14th and 15th inside the Santa María Basilica, in the Spanish city of Elche.
The act of the Misterio de Elche is based on traditional stories about the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that were transmitted orally during the first years of Christianity. From the 4th century, these stories were compiled in the Apocryphal Gospels.
The exact origins of the Misterio de Elche are unknown due to the lack of existing documentation but recent research situates the event in the second half of the 15th century. This, in fact, contradicts local tradition, which connects the event with the conquest of Muslim Elche in 1265 on one hand, and the miraculous apparition of the Virgin on December 29th in 1370, on the other. The festival book (Consueta), which laid out the rituals to be followed for a particular celebration, was discovered next to the figure of Mary inside a wooden ark floating on the Mediterranean Sea, in the coastal region of Santa Pol (Tamarit beach).
It is the only work of this genre that has been performed without interruption until the present day, unaffected even by the prohibition on theatrical plays in church interiors by the Council of Trent. In 1632, Pope Urban VIII granted the town of Elche permission to continue performing this play, via a papal bull.
All characters in the play are represented by men, in a continuation of the tradition. The liturgical-medieval origins expressly prohibited women from acting in this type of play.
The text of the Mystery is written in ancient Valencian, with the exception of some verses, written in Latin.
The music is an amalgamation of different styles from the epoch, which include elements from the Middle Ages, as well as Baroque and Renaissance motifs.
On May 18th 2001, UNESCO declared the play a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The Mystery has also received a number of honorary awards, which include the National Monument by the Government of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, Fiesta de Interés Turístico Internacional (Festival of International Tourist Interest) by the Ministry of Information and Tourism in 1980, the Creu de Sant Jordi (Cross of Saint George) by the Generalitat of Catalonia as well as the Corbata de la Orden de Alfonso X el Sabio by the Ministry of Education and Science in 1988 and the Corbata de la Orden de Isabel la Católic by the Ministry of External Affairs in 1990, amongst others.
ORIGIN OF THE TEXT
The oldest documented text in existence is a copy that dates from the 17th century. The original manuscript was lost but a copy was preserved, although it is not easy to put an exact date to it. The oldest copy in existence, dated 1709, is the Festival Book (Consueta) kept by the Kapellmeister; it is currently in possession of the council.
Traditionally it was thought that the text was written in Limousin (French dialect). This is, however, an error as Limousin is a name that was mistakenly confused with the name given to Catalan spoken in the Kingdom of Valencia, also known as Valencian. The text is succinct; the first part is comprised of 139 verses and the second part 119 verses. The verses are, in general, short with a simple structure. Originally, not all the text was sung but music gradually increased throughout the play until it accompanied the whole text. The author is unknown, but belongs to the historical past. Some researchers believe that the author could be Prince Don Juan Manuel, but this is unconfirmed.
ORIGIN OF THE MUSIC
The music has been studied by Óscar Esplá, who believes that it might originate from Mozarabic liturgy (medieval origin), which includes the songs of Mary and the Angel, of unknown origin. The more modern parts include some composers such as Ginés Pérez, Antonio de Ribera y Lluis Vich.
The composer of Ternari is also unknown, but its characteristics are suggestive of 16th century music. Music has been incorporated into the Mystery since, which fits in with the concept of a festival as a living entity in permanent evolution.
ORIGIN OF THE PLAY
As with both the text and music, the exact date of the play’s origin is unknown. It is known, however, that a royal document existed in 1266 authorising the celebration, which means that this play, representing the Assumption, took place in Elche only twenty-four years following the expulsion of the Muslims from Elche. The format of the play then would have been different to its current format, but it is known that baroque stage props were used in addition to numerous associated artefacts. In the Festival Book (Consueta) from 1625, the following items are referred to: “el Cadafal” (Scaffolding), “el Llit” (bed in Valencian), “La mangrana”, (pomegranate). Reference is also made to rockets exploding, bells ringing, entrance and exit processions and a struggle against the Jews (La Judiada).
THE FESTIVAL
The focus of the Misterio de Elche is based on the plays that take place inside the Santa María basilica on August 14th, known as “la Vespra”, and August 15th, known as “La Festa”. There are also a series of religious and non-religious acts, ceremonies and official events that take place on the surrounding days. All of these acts together are called the “Festa de Elche” (Festival of Elche).
On August 6th the first official act of the festival takes place, called the Prova de veus (Voice test), during which the festival organising board judges the voices of junior roles within the Mystery.
On August 10th the Prova de l’àngel (Angel Test) takes place. This ceremony aims to reassure those people that have to descend on moving apparatus during the Mystery, as well as the correct functioning of the heaven stage apparatus.
On August 11th, 12th and 13th, general rehearsals of the Mystery take place, open to the public.
On August 13th, the Nit de l’Albà takes place, during which the citizens of Elche go out onto the streets or terraces to thrown fireworks, rockets and firecrackers. At 11.30pm the rocket offering begins, and thousands of rockets are set off in an offering of light and sound to the virgin. At midnight, in the Santa María basilica, an enormous firework display is set off, which lights up the whole town, called the “palmera de la Mare de Déu” (Mother of God firework display).
At 12 o’clock midnight on August 14th the “Vespra” finishes, marking the end of the first play in the basilica. From the basilica door, the “Roà” begins. This is a unique ceremony that consists of a procession of individual people carrying candles through the streets. The procession makes the same route that will be sued the following day for the burial of the Virgin. What is surprising about the “Roà” is that nobody organises or directs it but worshippers do not stop passing by throughout the whole night.
On August 15th at 10am the burial procession takes place, during which actors of the Mystery carry the image of the virgin on their shoulders through the streets. This is an extension of the burial scene in the play, represented during the second act, which enables all worshippers to participate if they want. This procession converts the whole city into a scene of Assumption drama.
Redemption by the Virgin takes place from August 16th until the 22nd as a finale to the festival, and consists of a mass given for all the citizens that have passed away during the last year. It takes place in the prayer room reserved for Elche Council. On August 31st the final act of the month of Assumption is carried out, a religious ceremony in the church of Santa Maria, with pilgrimage and redemption. Following this act, a firework display is held from the top of the basilica bell tower.
The autumn series are held over the final days of October and 1st of November on years that end in an even number. To commemorate the proclamation of the Assumption of the Virgin in Heaven as a dogma of the Catholic Church, every two years a cycle of plays based on the Mystery are performed over the cited dates. Since 1990, the Festival de Teatro y Música Medieval de Elche (Elche Festival of Medieval Theatre and Music) has transformed the city into an important reference for medieval festivals.
The Coming of the Virgin is celebrated on December 28th and 29th and consists in the representation of a local tradition based on the discovery of the virgin by a coastguard called Francesc Cantó. On years that end in even numbers, townspeople get up early and simulate the apparition of the virgin on an arc at the beach of Tamarit. The image of the virgin is taken to Elche on a pilgrimage along the old road of Santa Pola. On December 29th, a procession is held through the centre of the city followed by mass in the Santa María basilica.
