| 释义 |
‖ quête|kɛt|
[Fr., quest.]
The traditional act of begging for food or alms to the accompaniment of folk-song; spec. as part of a folk-play. Also attrib., as quête song. Cf. quest n.1 7.
1903E. K. Chambers Mediaeval Stage I. vi. 119 Hardly a rural merry-making..is without its procession; if it is only in the simple form of the quête which the children consider themselves entitled to make. Ibid. viii. 168 The rest..have either become..mere quête songs, or..have taken on a Christian colouring. 1933― Eng. Folk-Play 13 Structurally, the piece falls into three parts: the Presentation.., the Drama.., the Quête. Ibid. 21 To his normal lines Father Christmas may add others which..are also found as independent quête-songs of the Christmas season. 1967A. L. Lloyd Folk Song in England ii. 102 Here is another set of wassailing verses... The begging motive..is important... We call such pieces quête songs. 1979R. Palmer Eng. Country Songs 15 A number of such songs..provided the opportunity for a quête. |