Planctus

Planctus is a term used in medieval Latin literature and music to denote a lament or plaintive song expressing sorrow, mourning, or sympathy. The word derives from Latin planctus, meaning a lament or wailing, from planctare “to lament.” In liturgical and devotional contexts, planctus referred to a family of short dramatic or recitative pieces performed in churches or monasteries, especially during Holy Week or Marian devotions. Texts typically recount the sorrows of biblical figures or the faithful’s response to salvation events, and are usually in Latin; some appear in vernacular or bilingual forms in certain manuscripts.

Musically, planctus began as chant-like or spoken laments, often monophonic, with refrain-like phrases or call-and-response structures. In the late medieval period some planctus were set to early polyphony and circulated in manuscript collections alongside other sacred songs and motets. The genre overlaps with other lament genres of medieval Latin lyric and drama and contributed to the development of the broader medieval lament tradition, including later works like the Stabat Mater.

Scholars study planctus as a window into liturgical theatre and the emotional culture of medieval devotion, illustrating how communities expressed sorrow and consolation through words and music. Surviving examples are primarily anonymous, found in liturgical books, antiphoners, and drama-like texts from the 12th to 15th centuries across Europe, especially in Latin manuscript culture.

See also: Stabat mater, lament, liturgical drama.