Music in the Middle Ages: A Reference Guide

(Hardback)

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Description

Music both influences and reflects the times in which it was created. In the Middle Ages, the previous Dark Ages, the Crusades, and the feudal system all impacted the types and forms of music in the period. Charlemagne standardized the church mass and promoted the Gregorian chant, to the point of threatening excommunication if any other were performed. Musical notation the staff line was developed during the period. The troubadours of France, Meistersingers of Germany,the Cantus Firmus of Italy, and the instruments that played the music are all included in this thorough guide to music of the middle ages. Topics include: the British Isles, Dance Music, Eastern Europe, France, Germanic Lands, Harps, Italy, the Low Countries, Spain, and more.

Reviews

For those individuals that want an introduction to the wonders and complexities of music in the Middle Ages, this is an excellent resource that is both comprehensive yet understandable to the average person. This book would be a great reference book on this topic in any public library. * Reference Reviews *
Overall, Lord has produced a succinct reference text that may find limited use in the collegiate, conservatory, or secondary school classroom. * Sixteenth Century Journal *

Author Bio

Suzanne Lord is Associate Professor of Flute and Music History at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She has previously written Music from the Age of Shakespeare (2003).