liturgical drama

A medieval church representation of Bible and other stories. It originated, probably in France, in a 10th-century trope to the Introit for Easter Day, which takes the form of a dialogue for the Angel and the Marys at the sepulchre. In the second half of the century it was transferred to Matins. The music was originally an extension of plainsong but in course of time came to consist of original compositions. Later subjects treated include the Walk to Emmaus, the Nativity, Epiphany, the Massacre of the Innocents, Old Testament stories, and the lives of the saints. The texts were generally in Latin but sometimes also in the vernacular.