VERTUS IRÉNIQUES ET CIVILISATRICES DU CHANT SUR LE CHANT« L’ASSOCIATION POÉTIQUE DES CITHARÈDES LÉGENDAIRES (AMPHION, ARION ET ORPHÉE) CHEZ HORACE ET SILIUS ITALICUS »
Résumé
The soothing and civilizing virtues of the song on the song, “The poetical association of the legendary zitherists (Amphion, Arion and Orpheus) in Silius Italicus and Horace)” Orpheus, Amphion and Arion are often cited together to exalt the power of vocal music, which is perceived as the reflection of poetry itself. Horace emphasizes Amphion and Arion's civilizing deeds, whereas Silius Italicus praises the cosmic pacification produced by the songs of the three zitherists. A thorough analysis of their verses shows that the poet, who reminds the reader of the beneficial deeds of the mythical singers, aims at obtaining for himself the very same power he attributes to the singers. This evocation of the zitherists is conceived as a mise en abyme of the song and its virtues. In the second century A. D., Clement of Alexandria will further develop this theme and transpose it into the Christian context to praise the power of the new song.
Dans la littérature ancienne, la fréquente réunion d'Orphée, Amphion et Arion vise à exalter la puissance de la musique vocale, conçue comme reflet de la poésie elle-même. Horace insiste sur l'oeuvre civilisatrice des deux premiers. Silius Italicus loue l'apaisement cosmique produit par le chant de chacun des trois. L'analyse de leurs vers montre que le poète qui rappelle les bienfaits des chantres mythiques aspire toujours à se voir doté d'un pouvoir semblable à celui qu'il décrit. Cette commune évocation est conçue comme une mise en abyme du chant et de ses vertus. Au II e siècle ap. J.-C., Clément d'Alexandrie proposera semblable développement de la légende avant de la transposer dans la sphère chrétienne pour chanter cette fois la puissance du chant nouveau. Abstract.-Orpheus, Amphion and Arion were often cited together to exalt the power of vocal music which was perceived as the reflection of poetry itself. Horace emphasizes Amphion and Arion's civilizing deeds, whereas Silius Italicus praises the cosmic pacification produced by the songs of the three zitherists. A thorough analysis of their verses shows that the poet, who reminds the reader of the beneficial deeds of the mythical singers, aims at obtaining for himself the very same power he attributes to the singers. This evocation of the zitherists is conceived as a mise en abyme of the song and its virtues. In the second century A. D., Clement of Alexandria was to develop this theme further and transpose it into the Christian context to praise the power of the new song.