Overview

The theme of the essays in this volume is the identification of the resource which between c.1320 and 1642 the English Church saw fit to provide for the performance of the music of its liturgy. Individual essays describe the music and the choirs of Canterbury and Lincoln Cathedrals, Winchester Cathedral Priory and the private chapel of Cardinal Wolsey, while the personnel of the chapels of Edward III, the Black Prince and John of Gaunt emerge from study of the texts of compositions of the 14th century. From the alignment of contemporary musical and archival sources there arises a web of conclusions relating to the size of ensemble, vocal scoring and sounding pitch envisaged by its composers for English Church polyphony of the period c. 1320-1559. These essays thus encompass the two most profound of the revolutions to which the music of the English Church was subject at this period: the inauguration and widespread adoption of choral polyphony in the years c.1455-85 and the liturgical and doctrinal reformation of 1547 to 1563.

Full Product Details

9780860787785

Table of Contents

Reviews

'...the writing is extremely clear and the book is strongly recommended.' Early Music Review, No. 52 'His volume opens with three famous essays that are the very basis of recent thought about vocal ensembles and pitch...the volume ends with three essays that will always stand as classics....' Early Music '...this is an enthralling book...An impressive feature of the book is the wealth of documentary evidence and bibliographical references....' Cathedral Music, No. 1 'All in all this is a most impressive collection of twenty years of scholarship, and comes highly recommended to all students of English music and church history alike.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History 'This volume represents the major contribution of a Cambridge archival scholar who has notably enriched our knowledge of English church music (and other fields).' Anglican and Episcopal History

'...the writing is extremely clear and the book is strongly recommended.' Early Music Review, No. 52 'His volume opens with three famous essays that are the very basis of recent thought about vocal ensembles and pitch...the volume ends with three essays that will always stand as classics...' Early Music '...this is an enthralling book...An impressive feature of the book is the wealth of documentary evidence and bibliographical references...' Cathedral Music, No. 1 'All in all this is a most impressive collection of twenty years of scholarship, and comes highly recommended to all students of English music and church history alike.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History 'This volume represents the major contribution of a Cambridge archival scholar who has notably enriched our knowledge of English church music (and other fields).' Anglican and Episcopal History

'...the writing is extremely clear and the book is strongly recommended.' Early Music Review, No. 52 'His volume opens with three famous essays that are the very basis of recent thought about vocal ensembles and pitch...the volume ends with three essays that will always stand as classics....' Early Music '...this is an enthralling book...An impressive feature of the book is the wealth of documentary evidence and bibliographical references....' Cathedral Music, No. 1 ’All in all this is a most impressive collection of twenty years of scholarship, and comes highly recommended to all students of English music and church history alike.’ Journal of Ecclesiastical History 'This volume represents the major contribution of a Cambridge archival scholar who has notably enriched our knowledge of English church music (and other fields).' Anglican and Episcopal History

Author Information

Roger Bowers, University of Cambridge, UK

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available