Discovering Medieval Song: Latin Poetry and Music in the Conductus

The Conductus repertory is a collection of monophonic and polyphonic non-liturgical Latin songs that dominated European culture from the twelfth to the fourteenth century. This book explores the poetry and music, musical structures, and geographical and temporal reach of the genre, and its significance for performance today. It also studies what medieval society thought of the Conductus, its function, and how it fitted into patristic and secular Latin cultures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 409 pages
Publication date: 11 November 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Conductus repertory, a rich tapestry of monophonic and polyphonic non-liturgical Latin songs, held sway
dominant sway over European culture from the mid-twelfth century to the dawn of the fourteenth century. In his illuminating work, Mark Everist delves into the intricate interplay between poetry and music, unraveling the mechanisms behind the creation of musical structures and exploring the genre's expansive geographical and temporal reach. This comprehensive volume examines the perception of the Conductus in medieval society, its role within various contexts, and its integration into patristic and secular Latin cultures. It emerges as a genre of remarkable poetic and musical sophistication, harmonizing the talents of poets and musicians in a way that had never been seen before. Through a balanced approach, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of an important yet understudied repertory of medieval music, engaging both poetry and music with equal vigor to present fresh and contemporary perspectives on this captivating genre.

ISBN-13: 9781009074971