Abstract
The book „The Death and the Humor“ offers a pre-modern perception of the death, as represented in the lyrics of Baroque Songs. The „positive“ perception is present in three aspects: 1/ In the textual depiction of the eternal life in the Heaven. 2/ In the grotesque depiction of dead bodies and of the eternal punishment. 3/ In the contrast between gloomy lyrics and „positive“, charming musical part.
Material is taken mainly from Czech Baroque songbooks (Šteyer, Božan, Holan Rovenský), but also from other Central European Baroque authors (Bach, Esterházy) as well as from Post-Baroque cultural afterlife (Ryba). The book includes also a CD where some of the explored songs are recorded (in many cases for the first time ever).