Theatre in the Low Countries
DiscussionsDutch writing in English - An appreciation
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1knarf
The Low Countries have a longstanding theatrical tradition - the earliest secular plays that survive completely date from the 1350s. As some of you have found out - I'm thinking of Caroline McElwee and her search for a Vondel translation - not much is available in English, but there is some and by starting this thread maybe more comes to light.
Paradoxically many of the early plays are just about as inaccessible to Dutch or Flemish native speakers as they are to those who can't read Dutch at all: the Dutch language has changed to such an extent that most of them would need a translation into modern Dutch.
Anyway, I found out about the existence of the 'Carleton Renaissance Plays in Translation Series', volume 29 of which contains Netherlandic Secular Plays from the Middle Ages - exactly what they are, I'm not sure, but I guess it contains the earliest plays, the so-called Abele spelen or 'Noble plays' and their concurrent sotternieën or 'follies' (more farcical bits).
The same series (but which volume?) also has an edition of Joost van den Vondel's Gijsbrecht van Amstel, probably Vondel's play most Dutchmen know about, because for centuries it opened the New Year in the Stadsschouwburg or city theatre in Amsterdam. Vondel (1587-1679) was a prolific writer of (often occasional) poetry and many plays. Many of these are on biblical themes - his Lucifer, on the Fall of this former angel, is still performed occasionally. In some plays, things are deceptive. At first sight Palamedes treats a classical theme, but is in fact a comment on the political strife between Grand Pensionary Van Oldenbarnevelt and prince Maurits of Orange - the two most important political figures in the Dutch Republic until Van Oldenbarnevelt's beheading in 1618. As a renaissance writer, Vondel wrote his plays in verse and incorporated choruses, after the Greek example. Go and listen to the original music for the chorus from act IV of 'Gijsbrecht van Aemstel'...
(I see some wrong touchstones appearing.)
Paradoxically many of the early plays are just about as inaccessible to Dutch or Flemish native speakers as they are to those who can't read Dutch at all: the Dutch language has changed to such an extent that most of them would need a translation into modern Dutch.
Anyway, I found out about the existence of the 'Carleton Renaissance Plays in Translation Series', volume 29 of which contains Netherlandic Secular Plays from the Middle Ages - exactly what they are, I'm not sure, but I guess it contains the earliest plays, the so-called Abele spelen or 'Noble plays' and their concurrent sotternieën or 'follies' (more farcical bits).
The same series (but which volume?) also has an edition of Joost van den Vondel's Gijsbrecht van Amstel, probably Vondel's play most Dutchmen know about, because for centuries it opened the New Year in the Stadsschouwburg or city theatre in Amsterdam. Vondel (1587-1679) was a prolific writer of (often occasional) poetry and many plays. Many of these are on biblical themes - his Lucifer, on the Fall of this former angel, is still performed occasionally. In some plays, things are deceptive. At first sight Palamedes treats a classical theme, but is in fact a comment on the political strife between Grand Pensionary Van Oldenbarnevelt and prince Maurits of Orange - the two most important political figures in the Dutch Republic until Van Oldenbarnevelt's beheading in 1618. As a renaissance writer, Vondel wrote his plays in verse and incorporated choruses, after the Greek example. Go and listen to the original music for the chorus from act IV of 'Gijsbrecht van Aemstel'...
(I see some wrong touchstones appearing.)
2kiwidoc
Thanks so much, Frank, for the information on the early theatre and your effort at posting the links.
The music chorus sounds just lovely, very medieval sound as we hear in the English music of that period. The recorder (or was it a flute) was just lovely. This all ties in wonderfully with my present audio readings of Shakespeare (presently listening to Henry V). The English language of Shakespeare's plays require some study to understand nuance and relevancy, but I wonder if the Dutch language has evolved more rapidly still. I guess the translations that you refer to, maybe translated for a modern audience? (unlike Shakespeare).
It would be wonderful if some of these early plays of Vondel were available on audio - but I guess the audience would be too narrow.
The music chorus sounds just lovely, very medieval sound as we hear in the English music of that period. The recorder (or was it a flute) was just lovely. This all ties in wonderfully with my present audio readings of Shakespeare (presently listening to Henry V). The English language of Shakespeare's plays require some study to understand nuance and relevancy, but I wonder if the Dutch language has evolved more rapidly still. I guess the translations that you refer to, maybe translated for a modern audience? (unlike Shakespeare).
It would be wonderful if some of these early plays of Vondel were available on audio - but I guess the audience would be too narrow.
3JanWillemNoldus
Dutch has evolved as much since Vondel (17th century)as English since Chaucer. To read medieval texts in Dutch (actually one doesn't speak of Dutch until the 15/16th centuries, but of Middle Dutch), a special universitary formation is needed. It is really another language.
Then there are the problems of spelling. Dutch have always liked to change spelling. This is a delicate question. Even during the last 50 years spelling has changed several times, making texts dating from before WWII difficult reading even for many "native speakers".
However, some texts exists in English, e.g. Everyman. I believe that it is unknown which version existed before the other. So the Dutch version "Elkerlyc"might even be a translation of the English version, but it may be the other way around also...
Then there are the problems of spelling. Dutch have always liked to change spelling. This is a delicate question. Even during the last 50 years spelling has changed several times, making texts dating from before WWII difficult reading even for many "native speakers".
However, some texts exists in English, e.g. Everyman. I believe that it is unknown which version existed before the other. So the Dutch version "Elkerlyc"might even be a translation of the English version, but it may be the other way around also...
4knarf
Some additional information on the Carleton Renaissance Plays in Translation Series: volume 29 does indeed contain the Abele spelen. Click here for some background information on these plays and the Van Hulthem Manuscript, which contains the earliest version.
Also, the Carleton Series doesn't contain one, but two of Vondel's plays, the second being Maria Stuart of gemartelde majesteit or, in English: Mary Stuart, or Tortured Majesty. I don't know it, but apparently it portrays Mary, Queen of Scots as a catholic martyr, not a view the politically dominant protestant were likely to share... Vondel himself was a catholic.
Also, the Carleton Series doesn't contain one, but two of Vondel's plays, the second being Maria Stuart of gemartelde majesteit or, in English: Mary Stuart, or Tortured Majesty. I don't know it, but apparently it portrays Mary, Queen of Scots as a catholic martyr, not a view the politically dominant protestant were likely to share... Vondel himself was a catholic.
