Mummer? What’s a mummer? Huh? Wha..?

Gentle Musical Readers,

Artist: Unknown

MCE will be performing a Latvian carol, The Mummers’ Song, for the 2011 Winter concert. When the piece was first introduced to us in rehearsal, a wave of interrogative murmurs passed through the chorus (“Mummer?”, “What’s a mummer?”, “Huh?”,“Wha..?”). 

I did some research and was thrilled to find an authentic specimen of modern mummery on YouTube which seems to illuminate our distant pagan European roots.

Mumming, mummering, or mummery seems to be a seasonal tradition in which masked, costumed revelers go from door to door, disrupting Christmas celebrations or quiet evenings at home with uproarious antics. They request food and drink in payment for providing entertainment. The mummer’s appear to have the same relationship to a well-ordered society as the Seafair Pirates or trick-or-treaters gone wild.

Source: Mummersartist.com

The setting of the YouTube mummers’ performance appears to be a family-oriented, community Christmas celebration somewhere in Eastern Europe. There is an atmosphere of eating and drinking conviviality in the hall, when suddenly from outside, there is a fearful roaring of male voices and rhythmic beating of drums. The masked mummers invade the hall wearing outlandish costumes. They sing and perform an oafishly graceful song and dance. 

The children appear to be slightly anxious and wary of these menacing intruders, but soon even the youngest children understand that these roaring, dancing men will not harm them. So they become more bold and curious;  some even challenge the mummers in various child-like ways. These guys are less scary to kids than department store Santa’s or circus clowns. 

The mummers’ performance appears to be a traditional ritual in which everyone knows his part and at the end (climax), it includes some vulgar physical humor. However this European gathering is not fazed by the mummers’ bawdy antics. They appear to lack even the slightest tinge of Puritanism. They take it all in stride even when tastelessly moistened by the mummers. 

This clip is R-rated, or at least requires Parental Guidance. Hah! Got your attention now! Please check it out and let us know what you think.

For a more gentle, whimsical Newfoundland evening of mummery, check out this YouTube clip (This one is hilarious and heartwarming):

Roberta DeBruler

Musical Correspondent

Master Chorus Eastside