(d. before 1473). Author of a well-known Mystere de la Passion, Greban was born in Le Mans and studied theology at the University of Paris. From 1450 to 1455, he lived in the cloister of the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, where he was organist and master of the choirboys. It was here that he wrote his Passion play, probably in 1450-52. This work is set in the framework of the Proces de Paradis, first introduced by Eustache Marcade, and its 35,000 lines are divided into four playing days. Despite its variety of styles (sermons, debates, lamentations) and moods (solemn in Heaven, comic in Hell, pathetic in torture scenes), the play exhibits a strong unity. Greban employs many poetic forms and punctuates the action throughout with music. The life of Jesus is presented against the background of a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. This conflict is introduced in the first scenes, where Lucifer rebels against God then out of envy tempts Adam and Eve to fall from grace. Greban’s Passion was played three times in Paris before 1473. It served as the basis for Jean Michel’s Passion play and was adapted for production in a number of other cities.
Alan E. Knight
[See also: MICHEL, JEAN; MYSTERY PLAYS: PASSION PLAYS]
Greban, Arnoul. Le mystere de la Passion, ed. Omer Jodogne. 2 vols. Brussels: Palais des
Academies, 1965-83.
Champion, Pierre. Histoirepoetique du quinzieme siecle. 2 vols. Paris: Champion, 1923, Vol. 2, pp.
133-88.
World History
