Antiquity and the Middle Ages: From Ancient Greece to the 15th Century
Terry Brown
James McKinnon, ed. Antiquity and the Middle Ages: From Ancient Greece to 15th Century. Music Society. Englewood Cliffs: New Jersey, 1990. x, 337 pp. ISBN 0-13-036153-4 (hardcover), 0-13-036161-5 (paperback). 1. McKinnon: Early Western Civilisation; 2. Andrew Barker: Public as 'Fine Art' in Archaic Greece; 3. Christian Antiquity; 4. Emergence of Gregorian Chant Carolingian Era; 5. David Hiley: Plainchant Transfigured: Innovation Reformation through! Ages; 6. Marion S. Gushee: Polyphonic Monastery, Cathedral University; 7. Peter M. Lefferts: Medieval England, 950-1450; 8. Christopher Page: Court City France, 1100-1300; 9. Daniel Leech-Wilkinson: Antiqua - Ars Nova Subtilior; 10. Michael Long: Italy; 11. Reinhard Strohm: Close Ages. Few would question need for a book designed illuminate relationship between music society before Renaissance. Of all music's stylistic periods, Ages is arguably one which this remains most dimly perceptible. studies have been preoccupied with sources texts (both musical theoretical) because there were so many be worked through, are few easily furnish much information about societies from they emerged. Unfortunately, it must questioned whether volume really represents an advance. It succeeds far revealing how learned, or at least, hypothesized, highlighting questions scholarship has neglected failed explore. In fairness, pointed out that easier identify such than find answers, even know where look. Contrary series' Preface dust-jacket material promise, good deal consists historical survey what happened ignoring promises why (ix). Hiley's chapter on medieval plainsong creates long series frustrations, describing mentioning versus, cantiones, Feast Fools, liturgical drama, saints' offices without apparently considering ideas social function meaning. Like Leech-Wilkinson's later continental polyphony, Manuscripts short Man. Similarly, Gushee discusses instructions use polyphony processions very great civic religious significance these events held. Surely link special occasions styles should interest one's stated aims. Both Lefferts (on English Music) gloss over intriguing similarity certain polyphonic dance folk interactions sacred secular musicians. Long's essay Trecento surveys genres. He considers awareness French culture (252) but not relations Italian people French, their appetite songs. Long also makes offhand mention effect madrigal Florence's republican (254). The reader presumed implications milieu were, shown occurred. Yet documentation for, modern interpretations of, Florentine fact both exceedingly rich; work confraternities laude spiritiiali comes mind. This essay, like rest book, often effective its traditional discussion high cultural interaction, gets weaker moves toward properly societal. …
Canadian University Music Review