&lt;i&gt;Inside the Offertory: Aspects of Chronology and Transmission&lt;/i&gt; (review)
Lance W. Brunner
Reviewed by: Inside the Offertory: Aspects of Chronology and Transmission Lance W. Brunner Transmission. By Rebecca Maloy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. [viii, 449 p. ISBN 9780195315172. $55.] Illustrations, appendices, bibliography, indexes, music examples. Forty-five years ago, Ruth Steiner published an article entitled "Some Questions about Gregorian Offertories Their Verses" (Journal American Musicological Society 19, no. 2 [Summer 1966]: 162-81). She delicately posed pointed questions claims Willi Apel had made offertories in his book Chant (Blooming ton: Indiana 1954). showed how, using Karl Ott's unreliable edition offertories, Apel's assessment unusual notes melodic characteristics, as well dating verses, could not be trusted. wrote primarily "to point out some hazards . editions lacking critical apparatus" (Steiner, 181) but also, she emphasized, to stimulate new more comprehensive inquires. With publication Maloy's stunning book, Transmission, we have both a in-depth study genre that will stand monument chant scholarship. In asking most relevant her thoroughness precision allow posit answers reach beyond address fundamental medieval liturgical song general. Scholars been fascinated by particular because their unique characteristics. The origins are obscure, time earliest notated manuscripts, have, especially magnificent chants whole repertory. Most two or three verses included very long melismas, extended ranges, progressions. which were sung soloists, began left manuscripts during twelfth thirteenth centuries. Offertories, along with other categories chants, preserved distinct regional "dialects" belie common origin, show considerable variation. majority surviving copied north Alps transmit what is commonly called "Gregorian" repertory, while five from Rome eleventh centuries comprise has dubbed "Old Roman" (or simply "Roman") Other dialects also existed, for scholarship last sixty so revolve around relationships between Roman traditions, namely, where did come from, how was it transmitted produce such yet related repertories? provide particularly useful lens examine these larger issues, extensive, painstaking research provided clearer picture possibilities, including evocative hypotheses. first chapter, lays methodology, looking at key historical records (Carolingian chronicles, Ordo Romanus I, etc.). principal evidence exploring early history aside scattered references, found texts themselves, sources musical notation roughly tenth centuries, dialects, principally Milanese old-Hispanic. Three core explores monograph are: dialect closely resembles eighth-century prototype dialects?; types textual can shed light on genre's origin chronology?; learn solo verses? chapter Maloy examines offertory determine origins. Her analysis reveals complex, multilayered, nuanced matrices sources, interpretations, relies heavily meticulous Joseph Dyer Andreas Pfisterer this area, ability summarize synthesize substantial [End Page 332] scholars impressive. Examining psalm-based "lyrics," refers texts, finds many variants differing psalter, lack complexity of...
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