The Voice of Virtue: Moral Song and the Practice of French Stoicism, 1574-1652

The Voice of Virtue explores the musical practices of the Neostoic movement during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, highlighting the role of moral song in repairing personal and collective virtue. It combines a repertoire of music prints, visual culture, and literary and philosophical sources to demonstrate the influence of Stoicism on music and its connection to the sensory processes of the singing body.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Voice of Virtue delves into the musical practices that formed the core of the Neostoic movement, which swept across French lands during the Wars of Religion in the latter half of the sixteenth century. Guided by the twin traditions of music and philosophy as therapeutic agents, composers and performers from both Catholic and Protestant confessions turned to moral song as a means of repairing the damage caused by the ongoing conflict. These moral song collections expanded the reach of Stoic philosophy by presenting its ethical program in captivating musical paraphrases, appealing to a broader audience. Moreover, this expertly crafted repertoire of polyphonic songs offered a multi-sensory moral practice that resonated deeply with those familiar with the paradoxes of the Stoic tradition. By bringing together a collection of rare music prints, a rich visual culture, and an extensive array of literary and philosophical sources, The Voice of Virtue not only sheds light on the influence of Stoicism on music but also emphasizes that we cannot fully comprehend Neostoicism as an intellectual or cultural movement without considering its vibrant musical sounds. Within these Stoic practices, virtue emerges as a rational and deeply embodied force, intricately intertwined with the sensory experiences of the singing body.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197529744