Talk:Intermezzo

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In The Art of Cookery in the Middle Ages, Terence Scully (pg. 109) hints that the origins of the intermezzo can be found in the medieval entremets, the Old French term for a subtlety. This seems to make a lot of sense since subtleties provided a form of culinary entertainment that eventually evolved into completely inedible decorations made of wood and metal. By the end of the 15th century (in Capua, no less) they were already grandiose spectacles with actors portraying Roman and Greek deities presenting the various courses at lavish banquets. The etymology certainly seems to support this connection. Any comments?

Peter Isotalo 12:39, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Yes indeed. They then developed into extravagant masque-like dramatic entertainments in 16th century courts, held in a different location from the meal. This certainly needs covering. Johnbod (talk) 13:54, 17 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Are you thinking perhaps of the intermedio? Antandrus  (talk) 13:56, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Ah, yes, I thought we did have something. I don't think the two terms are anything like as distinct as these articles imply. Roy Strong in Art and Power; Renaissance Festivals 1450-1650, 1984, The Boydell Press;ISBN 0851152007, uses "intermezzo" throughout to describe large-scale affairs like those in "intermedio". At the very least this article needs to link there.

Johnbod (talk) 14:42, 17 March 2008 (UTC)


 * According to the New Grove, "Intermezzo" is sometimes used to describe the works inserted between the acts of Renaissance comedies. However they write it up under "Intermedio", which is the Italian word for the same thing.  (That's the article I used to write the Intermedio article, way back whenever that was.)  It's really just a choice of using an English vs. the Italian word for the things ... which were quite a big deal in Florence and other northern Italian cities.  Cheers, Antandrus  (talk) 15:04, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
 * This doesn't agree with Strong - oddly enough "intermezzo" is "the Italian word" for it too! In Strong & his notes "Intermèdes" appear only in French; the Italian & English scholars use "intermezzo". "Masque" would be one English word. At the moment the article doesn't even link to any of these.  Johnbod (talk) 15:41, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
 * See also Britannica "Intermezzo". Johnbod (talk) 17:13, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, the opening states the term falls into two general categories, and then the body gives you three general categories. Could someone with expertise kindly repair this? 2601:444:C201:8670:CCD2:5F9B:50DF:57C3 (talk) 00:45, 10 November 2016 (UTC)