A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Farce

by John Hullah

FARCE (Ital. Farsia, probably from the Latin farcio to stuff—Plautus has centones farcire, to insert falsehoods or tricks). A farsia was a canticle in the vulgar tongue intermixed with Latin, originating in the French church at the time when Latin began to be a tongue 'not understanded of the people.' The farsia was sung in many churches at the principal festivals, almost universally at Christmas. It became a vehicle for satire and fun, and thus led to the modern Farsa or Farce, an opera in one act, of which the subject is extravagant and the action ludicrous.

[ J. H. ]