The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth Century: A Historical Introduction and Guide for Students and Musicians

by John Harper

Overview

An introduction to the principal forms and orders of Western liturgy between about 900 and 1700, this book explains their nature and basic historical origin, and presents in detail the contents and orders of principal services as well as additional and special forms of worship. This book emphasizes the mainstream of Western liturgy derived from the medieval Roman Rite as found in secular and monastic churches. After the Reformation it concentrates on the rites of the Roman Catholic church and the Church of England. Harper discusses the nature of liturgy and provides an historical summary and individual chapters on medieval churches and their communities, the Christian calendar, medieval liturgical books, the Psalms, the Office, the Mass, Processions and Additional Observances, Holy Week and Easter, the Tridentine Rite, and the English Book of Common Prayer. Harper concludes with two chapters which raise the problems of establishing the order of a liturgical service, and introduces selected medieval sources accessible in facsimile or edition. A select, annotated bibliography and a glossary of ecclesiastical and liturgical terms are included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198162797
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/31/1991
Series:	Clarendon Paperbacks
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	9.02(w) x 6.04(h) x 0.82(d)
Lexile:	1240L (what's this?)

About the Author

University College of North Wales, Bangor

Editorial Reviews

"Should be in all music and liturgy libraries. It is a good reference work for music history students. Choirmasters who want to learn about the various forms and liturgists who are interested in knowing the derivation of present rites need this book....It is a mine of information, well organized and clearly presented."—Sacred Music

"The best study and guide on Medieval liturgy that I have found."—Carol C. Vaughn, Houston Graduate School of Theology

"Superb. Brings together perspective on materials about medieval liturgy that are not accessible in any other single volume."—Paul Westermeyer, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary

"An excellent introduction to a vast and complex subject! The appendices and glossary alone are worth the price of the book—but the rest is just as good."—David W. Music, Southwestern Baptist Seminary

"An excellent, well-written book appropriate for reference and as a text in theological seminaries."—W.L. Hooper, Southwest Baptist University

From the Publisher