According to the band themselves this song was inspired by 'Dancing plague of 1518'. The outbreak began in July 1518 when a woman began to dance fervently in a street in Strasbourg (France). Historical documents, including "physician notes, cathedral sermons, local and regional chronicles, and even notes issued by the Strasbourg city council" are clear that the victims danced. It is not known why. Historical sources agree that there was an outbreak of dancing after a single woman started dancing, a group of mostly young women joined in, and the dancing did not seem to die down. It lasted for such a long time that it attracted the attention of the Strasbourg magistrate and bishop, and some number of doctors ultimately intervened, putting the afflicted in a hospital - which is a fascinating story in itself. The band continues on to explain of the song that as for it's engagement with our contemporary world: doesn't it sometimes feel like we're in the process of dancing ourselves to death? I wanted to add as well 'Gara amun ian a friar translates' to "Let us dance around the fire" in the made-up language that Anna Murphy created based on her impression of gealic language. :) Moreover, if you are wondering what Chorea Lasciva means - it's in Latin and means "A playful dance".
According to the band themselves this song was inspired by 'Dancing plague of 1518'. The outbreak began in July 1518 when a woman began to dance fervently in a street in Strasbourg (France). Historical documents, including "physician notes, cathedral sermons, local and regional chronicles, and even notes issued by the Strasbourg city council" are clear that the victims danced. It is not known why. Historical sources agree that there was an outbreak of dancing after a single woman started dancing, a group of mostly young women joined in, and the dancing did not seem to die down. It lasted for such a long time that it attracted the attention of the Strasbourg magistrate and bishop, and some number of doctors ultimately intervened, putting the afflicted in a hospital - which is a fascinating story in itself. The band continues on to explain of the song that as for it's engagement with our contemporary world: doesn't it sometimes feel like we're in the process of dancing ourselves to death? I wanted to add as well 'Gara amun ian a friar translates' to "Let us dance around the fire" in the made-up language that Anna Murphy created based on her impression of gealic language. :) Moreover, if you are wondering what Chorea Lasciva means - it's in Latin and means "A playful dance".