Publisher Description

The Roman de Fauvel describes the career of Fauvel, a horse-like figure whose overweening ambitions lead the writer to lament the evils of the world. He excites the attentions of the rich and powerful, presumes to court Lady Fortune, and provokes allÿkinds of outrage and grief. His very name is an anagram for Flaterie, Avarice, Vilanie, Vari‚t‚ (fickleness), Envie, and Lachet‚ (cowardice). A long poetic narrative enlivened by polyphonic and monophonic songs, chants, and pictures, the Roman makes use of allegory and satire to express vehement moral criticism of the late medieval royal court and Church. This is the first modern, critical edition of the monophonic songs collected in the Roman de Fauvel in the early fourteenth century. Samuel N. Rosenberg and Hans Tischler set out to establish and interpret the lyrics and music of all the monophonic pieces, some seventy in all. Accompanying the full poetic and music texts are their English translations from the original Latin and French. This edition represents the kinds of close collaboration between philologist and musicologist that the Fauvel songs call fro but have never before received. Illustrating a wide variety of form and styles?including chivalric love songs, dance pieces, ballades, rondeaux, and nonsense compositions?The Monophonic Songs in the Roman de Fauvel is an extraordinary valuable anthology of music and a treasure trove of information about the period.

Originally published in 1978, Medieval Music explores the fascinating development of medieval western music from its often obscure origins in the Jewish synagogue and early Church, to the mid-fifteenth century. The book is intended as a straightforward survey of medieval music and emphases the technical aspects such as form, style and notation. It is illustrated by nearly one hundred musical examples, the majority of which have been transcribed from original sources and many of which contains chapters on Latin chant and other forms of sacred monophony, secular song, early polyphony, the ars antiqua, French and Italian fourteenth-century music, English music, and fifteenth-century music. Each chapter is followed by a classified bibliography divided into musical sources, literary sources and modern studies; in addition to a comprehensive bibliography.

A Performer's Guide to Medieval Music is an essential compilation of essays on all aspects of medieval music performance, with 40 essays by experts on everything from repertoire, voices, and instruments to basic theory. This concise, readable guide has proven indispensable to performers and scholars of medieval music.

Spanning a millennium of musical history, this monumental volume brings together nearly forty leading authorities to survey the music of Western Europe in the Middle Ages. All of the major aspects of medieval music are considered, making use of the latest research and thinking to discuss everything from the earliest genres of chant, through the music of the liturgy, to the riches of the vernacular song of the trouvères and troubadours. Alongside this account of the core repertory of monophony, The Cambridge History of Medieval Music tells the story of the birth of polyphonic music, and studies the genres of organum, conductus, motet and polyphonic song. Key composers of the period are introduced, such as Leoninus, Perotinus, Adam de la Halle, Philippe de Vitry and Guillaume de Machaut, and other chapters examine topics ranging from musical theory and performance to institutions, culture and collections.

The friars represented a remarkable innovation in medieval religious life. Founded in the early 13th century, the Franciscans and Dominicans seemed a perfect solution to the Church's troubles in confronting rapid changes in society. They attracted enthusiastic support, especially from the papacy, to which they answered directly. In their first 200 years, membership grew at an astonishing rate, and they became counsellors to princes and kings, receiving an endless stream of donations and gifts. Yet there were those who believed the adulation was misguided or even dangerous, and who saw in the friars' actions only hypocrisy, deceit, greed and even signs of the end of the world. From the mid-13th century, writings appeared denouncing and mocking the friars and calling for their abolition. Their French and English opponents were among the most vocal. From harsh theological criticism and outrage at the Inquisition to vulgar tales and bathroom humor, this thoroughly documented work is suitable for the newcomer, as well as for readers who are familiar with the subject but might like to investigate specific topics in more detail.

The Sense of Sound is a radical recontextualization of French song, 1260-1330. Situating musical sound against sonorities of the city, madness, charivari, and prayer, it argues that the effect of verbal confusion popular in music abounds with audible associations, and that there was meaning in what is often heard as nonsensical.