Field Master
Description

Field Master

Property included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (REIS)

  Representation of the rivalry between the Mastro di Campo and the King in the conquest of the Queen's heart, in Mezzojuso is the re-enactment of the assault that the Count of Modica made on the Castle to conquer Queen Bianca of Navarre. The beginning is marked by the arrival of the royal procession that goes up on a stage that serves as a castle, starting a dance party. In the meantime, masks linked to tradition emerge. The dance is interrupted by the arrival of the Mastro di Campo who is followed by the engineer (who measures the terrain of the battle), Garibaldi and the Garibaldini, the brigands, the magician and other extras. The hero wears a red wax mask with a hooked nose and prominent lower lip, a white shirt full of colored ribbons, trousers and a red cloak. Arrived in the center of the square, the Mastro di Campo draws up the sign of challenge to the King who accepts. Throughout the square there is a riot of sounds, shots, noises. After a series of contortions of the various characters and active participation of the people who participate in the generous snack typical of the procession, the Mastro di Campo storms the castle but is wounded by the King: believed dead, he is transported away by his men. Finish the first act. In the second, Il Mastro di Campo, healed of his wounds, returns to the square with his army, thus starting another fight. The interventions of the various characters are identical to those of the first half. At a certain point, on the castle, the signs of nervousness increase. The Mastro di Campo and the Garibaldini sneak up the usual staircase and, taking advantage of the moment of confusion, surround the Court and chain the King. The Mastro di Campo, having removed his mask, finally embraces the Queen. A procession is then formed that will parade through the main streets of the town. The Field Master holds out his arm to the Queen while the King parades in chains. (Text source: Sicily Region REI data sheet)

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Technical sheet prepared by: Region of Sicily - Department of cultural heritage and Sicilian identity - CRicd: Regional center for inventory, cataloging and documentation and Sicilian regional film library

N. Prog. 95
Well: Mastro di Campo
Book: REI - Book of celebrations
Approval date: 13-04-2007
Category: Party / Ceremony
Province: Palermo
 
Municipality: Mezzojuso
Local denomination: Mastru ri House
Chronological News: The origin of the festival is attested between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Recurrence: Annual
Date: Last Sunday of Carnival
Occasion: Carnival in Sicily
Function: Traditional
Actors: Mastro di Campo, Royal Procession: King, Queen, Dignitaries, Dames, Secretary, Bomb disposal, guards, Moors. Procession of the Field Master: Tamurinaru, the Ambassador, Garibaldi with the Garibaldini, the Captain of Artillery, the Baron and the Baroness, Camperi, Suprastanti, Vurdunaru, Curatulu, Smash you, Gardener, Cavalry.
Participants: Local community, tourists
Description
Representation of the rivalry between the Mastro di Campo and the King in the conquest of the Queen's heart, in Mezzojuso is the re-enactment of the assault that the Count of Modica made on the Castle to conquer Queen Bianca of Navarre. The beginning is marked by the arrival of the royal procession that goes up on a stage that serves as a castle, starting a dance party. In the meantime, masks linked to tradition emerge. The dance is interrupted by the arrival of the Mastro di Campo who is followed by the engineer (who measures the terrain of the battle), Garibaldi and the Garibaldini, the brigands, the magician and other extras. The hero wears a red wax mask with a hooked nose and prominent lower lip, a white shirt full of colored ribbons, trousers and a red cloak. Arrived in the center of the square, the Mastro di Campo draws up the sign of challenge to the King who accepts. Throughout the square there is a riot of sounds, shots, noises. After a series of contortions of the various characters and active participation of the people who participate in the generous snack typical of the procession, the Mastro di Campo storms the castle but is wounded by the King: believed dead, he is transported away by his men. Finish the first act. In the second, Il Mastro di Campo, healed of his wounds, returns to the square with his army, thus starting another fight. The interventions of the various characters are identical to those of the first half. At a certain point, on the castle, the signs of nervousness increase. The Mastro di Campo and the Garibaldini sneak up the usual staircase and, taking advantage of the moment of confusion, surround the Court and chain the King. The Mastro di Campo, having removed his mask, finally embraces the Queen. A procession is then formed that will parade through the main streets of the town. The Field Master holds out his arm to the Queen while the King parades in chains.
 
REFERENCES
Cardella, Anthony. 2002. Holy rites and legends of the Sicilian people. Palermo: Sigma 
 
Cross, Marcella. 2004. The seasons of the sacred. Almanac of popular festivals in Sicily. Palermo: Flaccovius
 
 
Footnotes
 
Author Profile: Laura Mattaliano

 

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