SC - Period cookshop at Pennsic?

[Jeff Gedney]

> << Does anyone know how fast one should say the Lord's Prayer for this
(and
>  other) recipes?  I have long wondered about this because I went to a
>  Catholic school for a few years and can say a Hail Mary so fast it would
>  make your head spin! >>
>
> In Latin?

actually, I have no doubt that those who memorized the Ave Maria in Latin
at an early age can reel it of as quickly as those of us who memorized it
in english.  it's not even a matter of understanding latin, it's a matter
of developing a rythm with the prayer.

so, I'd say that it would tend to depend on whether the period style of
saying the Ave Maria or the Pater Noster was closer to how it is done today
(which is so quickly that it becomes almost a chanted meditation) or
whether it was done as a reverant prayer.  a very interesting query.

of course, having had almost 3 years of latin, could just as easily have
learned either in latin and said them either quickly or reverently... but
you don't need to know latin to be able to be able to do so.

My *guess*, based on limited knowledge would be this... the Pater Noster is
more often said slowly, as a reverent prayer, than it is said chanted
quickly, as a meditative prayer.  the Ave Maria is more often chanted
quickly (you can almost see the nuns rocking back and forth in trance at
mass).  latin poetry is usually recited rhythmically but not quickly
(almost like it's a marching chant) and the Lord's prayer tends to scan,
rhythmically more like latin poetry.  so my educated guess would be that
the Pater Noster was originally chanted at a slow or moderate rate but
rhythmically (try clapping your hands in a moderate or slow 4/4 rythym
"PAter NOster que EST in CAElum..." and see how that feels) while the Ave
Maria was chanted much as it is now and was used to create a focused
trancelike state.  If you know anything about Gregorian chant you might
even try digging up a Pater Noster chant which feels right and try timing
it like that.

That's what I would experiment with.  (In fact, I may do so and see how it
works...  Thanks for the idea!  Intriguing!)

I remain, in service to Meridies,
Lady Celia des L'archier