The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Music

by Mark Everist

Overview

From the emergence of plainsong to the end of the fourteenth century, this Companion covers all the key aspects of medieval music. Divided into three main sections, the book first of all discusses repertory, styles and techniques - the key areas of traditional music histories; next taking a topographical view of the subject - from Italy, German-speaking lands, and the Iberian Peninsula; and concludes with chapters on such issues as liturgy, vernacular poetry and reception. Rather than presenting merely a chronological view of the history of medieval music, the volume instead focuses on technical and cultural aspects of the subject. Over nineteen informative chapters, fifteen world-leading scholars give a perspective on the music of the Middle Ages that will serve as a point of orientation for the informed listener and reader, and is a must-have guide for anyone with an interest in listening to and understanding medieval music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521608619
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/03/2011
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Music
Pages:	514
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Mark Everist is Professor of Music at the University of Southampton.

Table of Contents

Chronology; Introduction Mark Everist; Part I. Repertory, Styles and Techniques: 1. Plainsong Susan Boynton; 2. Enriching the Gregorian heritage Michael McGrade; 3. Early polyphony to c.1200 Sarah Fuller; 4. The thirteenth century Mark Everist; 5. The fourteenth century Elizabeth Eva Leach; Part II. Topography: 6. England Peter Lefferts; 7. Italy to 1300 Marco Gozzi; 8. The trecento Marco Gozzi; 9. The Iberian Peninsula Nicolas Bell; 10. Music east of the Rhine Robert Curry; Part III. Themes, Topics and Trajectories: 11. Music and liturgy Sam Barrett; 12. Vernacular poetry and music Ardis Butterfield; 13. Latin poetry and music Leofranc Holford-Strevens; 14. Compositional trajectories Peter Lefferts; 15. Secular institutions and ecclesiastical foundations Rebecca Baltzer; 16. Theory and notation Dolores Pesce; 17. Music manuscripts Emma Dillon; 18. The geography of medieval music Christopher Page; 19. Reception Lawrence Earp; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"...will rightly be received as a vital item on any musician's bookshelf."
—Early Music

"I have always been a big fan of the “Companion” series published by Cambridge University Press. Typi- cally written by the leading scholars in a field and covering a lot of ground thoroughly and efficiently, these books can often become sta- ples of a home reference library. The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Music is no exception, and although longer than most of the other books in the series, it is in fact one of the best. "
—Early Music America

From the Publisher