Medieval song in Romance languages
By: John Haines
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cambridge
Language: eng
Number of pages: 304
ISBN-13: 9780521765749
Subjects: History and criticism; Romance languages; Women musicians; Songs; History
Description: John Haines presents a detailed survey of songs performed in Vulgar Latin and early Romance languages from around 500 to 1200. The first part of the book discusses this enormous body of neglected songs according to the categories of lament, love song, epic and devotional song. Medieval sources ù mostly condemnations ù ranging from sermons to chronicles attest to the long life and popularity of this music, performed all throughout this period and predominantly by women. Performance contexts range from the burial of the dead to the nursing of infants. The study argues for the reinstatement of female vernacular song in the mainstream of medieval music historiography and ends with a discussion of the neglected medieval lullaby. The second part of the book presents an edition and informative commentary of the dozen surviving witnesses with musical notation in the early Romance period prior to 1200. --Book Jacket.
Notes: Includes a selection of songs with music notation.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [174]-194) and index.