Les Litanies de Satan explained

"Les Litanies de Satan" ("The Litanies of Satan") is a poem by Charles Baudelaire, published as part of Les Fleurs du mal. The date of composition is unknown, but there is no evidence that it was composed at a different time to the other poems of the volume.^[1]

The poem is a renunciation of religion, and Catholicism in particular.^[2] It includes a blasphemous inversion of the Kyrie Eleison and the Glory Be, parts of the Catholic Mass,^[3] or it substitutes Satan for Mary and liturgy directed towards her.^[4] Swinburne called it the key to Les Fleurs du mal.^[4] The poet empathises with Satan, who has also experienced injustice^[5] and can have pity for those who are outcasts. But for political reasons, Baudelaire had to preface the poem with a note explaining he had no personal allegiance with Satan.^[6] Even so, Les Fleurs du mal led to him and his publishers being fined for "insult to public decency".

The poem is an inspiration to Satanists to this day.^[7]

Recordings

• American composer and electronic music pioneer, Ruth White, recorded an English translation for her 1969 release Flowers of Evil.
• In 1982, it was recorded in the original French by Diamanda Galás with electronic effects and released as a 12" single as The Litanies of Satan. It was later released as a CD.
• The Czech band Root (band) recorded the end of this poem on their 1991 album Hell Symphony.
• The Greek band Necromantia recorded an English translation for their début album Crossing the Fiery Path released in 1993.
• The Mexican thrash/death metal band Transmetal recorded a Spanish translation for their album Tristeza de Lucifer called "Las letanias de satan" ("Satan's litanies" in English).
• The Norwegian black metal act Gorgoroth performed "Litani til Satan", with Baudelaire's lyrics translated to Nynorsk, on their Incipit Satan album.
• The Polish band Sunrise Black recorded a Polish translation for their album Omnia pro Patria released in 2013.
• The Italian band Theatres des Vampires recorded a French version for their album Bloody Lunatic Asylum released in 2001.
• The Greek band Rotting Christ recorded a French version for their album Rituals released in 2016.
• Theater Oobleck recorded a version as part of their "Baudelaire In A Box" series.^[8]
• In 2018, Anakarsis a French group whose musical work is based around the book The Flowers of Evil recorded a rock version of The Litanies of Satan.^[9]

External links

• Litanies of Satan, English and French

Notes and References

1. Book: Starkie, Enid. Baudelaire. 21 September 2010. 1933. G.P. Putnam's sons.
2. Book: Debusscher. Gilbert. Schvey. Henry I.. Maufort. Marc. New essays on American drama. 21 September 2010. 1989. Rodopi. 978-90-5183-107-8. 16.
3. Book: Lawler, James R.. James R. Lawler. Poetry and moral dialectic: Baudelaire's "secret architecture". 21 September 2010. 1997. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. 978-0-8386-3758-6. 156.
4. Book: universitet, Uppsala. Studia anglistica upsaliensia. 21 September 2010. 1975. Almqvist & Wiksell. 978-91-554-0331-7.
5. Book: Daniel, Robert R.. The poetry of Villon and Baudelaire: two worlds, one human condition. 21 September 2010. 1997. P. Lang. 978-0-8204-3472-8.
6. Book: Leakey, F. W.. Baudelaire, Les fleurs du mal. registration. Les Litanies de Satan.. 21 September 2010. 1992. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-36116-3. 31.
7. http://www.communistvampires.com/horror/Flowers%20From%20Hell.htm Flowers From Hell: A Satanic Reader
8. Web site: Music | Theater Oobleck . Theateroobleck.bandcamp.com . 2015-08-23 . 2022-05-04.
9. live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/4ZoTsJZ8O-0. 2021-12-09. Anakarsis - Les Litanies de Satan - Charles Baudelaire Les Fleurs du Mal . YouTube.