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Faustbook: A Narrative Poem in the Manner of Five Acts John Harris
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- Kunst
This narrative poem in the manner of a five-act play (with excursus) was inspired by research I had done for teaching Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. I read it first when I was fourteen, finding in particular the count-down to death at midnight, like an execution, terrifying and poignant. His play incomplete, his fallen philosopher also unfinished, tantalized me then, and had recurred for my imagination in my maturity.
The poem therefore has an adolescent attitude, but it is an old man’s ideas.
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Advisory: students of the Faustian legends will recognize the authentic elements of its tradition: that it affronts Catholic Christianity with mawkish slander; that Faustus doubts his religion; that Mephistophiles is a sensualist; that evil and good struggle and often evil prevails; that conscience contends and is confused. These are the original themes. Offense is not intended. Neither is the tale censored.
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Faustbook, Background
A short presentation on the legend of Faustus and how Christopher Marlowe came to write his play, how Marlowe came to die and a recitation of Faustus dramatic death in the play.
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Faustbook Act 1 Scene 1
Chorus speaks: We are outside a house in Württemberg, Anno Domini Fifteen-hundred and Ninety-two. Mummers herald the holiday.
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Image is a Black Hole
taken from the Hubble telescope.
Music excerpt is
Paganini’s Vieuxtemps Violin Concertos,
Violin concerto No. 5 in A minor,
Op 37 - II. Adagio.
Viktoria Mullova with
Neville Marriner,
Academy St.Martin In The Fields -
Faustbook Act 1 Scene 2
A scholar’s gloomy study with a desk cluttered with writings and surrounded by shelves of books
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Music excerpt is
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248:
Chorale No. 35,
"Seid Froh Dieweil, Daß euer Heil"
Sung by the Prima Choir -
Faustbook Act 1 Scene 3
Main room of Faustus house, a large long table occupies the center, laden with food, many chairs about the table. Faustus in the center, seated, is flanked by students to his left and right, eating and drinking while Wagner bustles dishes in and out of the kitchen off-stage.
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Music excerpt is
Suite No. 2 in B Minor for Orchestra, BWV 1067: VII. Badinerie,
Klaus Pohlers, Artist -
Faustbook Act 1 Scene 4
We are in the scholar’s study again. Many candles are lit in many places around the room; and now on closer view by panning and close-ups, we see the instruments of necromancy: a glass globe containing boiling mercury, steaming crimson poisonous fumes trickling through a tube, distilling jewels into a bottle; piles of raw crystals; jars of fine colorful powders; a large mortar and pestle; and all the other alchemical paraphernalia, as well as walls and walls from floor to ceiling of precious ponderous books in unspoken languages.
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Music excerpt is
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for Organ,
BWV 565
Klemens Schnorr, Artist -
Faustbook Act 1 Scene 5
On New Year’s eve, Faustus sits in his gloomy study, pondering the sunset which he sees by its glorious inference upon the frosted panes of his mullioned windows, illuminating each glass square, gleaming traced patterns of sheaves of ice, like fern leaves impressed in amberous light, a gilt on each pane, glowing so richly that he is mesmerized to stare at them.
Music excerpt is
Sonata No. 1 for Solo Violin in G Minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio