Performing Piety: Musical Culture in Medieval English Nunneries

by A. Yardley

Overview

Addressing questions about the musical life in English nunneries in the later Middle Ages, Yardley pieces together a mosaic of nunnery musical life, where even the smallest convents sang the monastic offices on a daily basis and many of the larger houses celebrated the late medieval liturgy in all of its complexity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403962997
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	08/12/2008
Series:	The New Middle Ages
Edition description:	2008
Pages:	326
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

ANNE BAGNALL YARDLEY is Associate Professor of Music and Associate Academic Dean at Drew Theological School, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Monastic Rules Musical Leadership in the Nunnery The Reality of Musical Life Everyday Musical Practices: Psalters, the Office of the Dead, and Polyphony Pomp and Piety: Processional Practices in Nunneries The Bride of Christ: Liturgies for the Consecration of Nuns A Case Study in Benedictine Practices: Barking Abbey Syon Abbey: The English Manifestation of St. Bridget's Order Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

'...a text of limitless value and timeless relevance to all students of music, the middle ages and women religious.' - Lisa Padden, History of Women Religious in Britain and Ireland

'This excellent and accessible study is heartily recommended not only to those studying women's history, but also to anyone who is interested in gaining a better insight into medieval religious life, literature, music and spirituality.' - Lisa Colton, Early Music

'...a labour of love...Yardley's book is a major contribution and highly recommended to readers interested in English ecclesiastical history, monastic spirituality and musical practices in the Middle Ages.' - Ecclesiastical History

'...[Anne Bagnall Yardley] writes convincingly and persuasively of a topic she knows intimately. A richly rewarding book, it will be of great use for scholars of medieval monasticism and music history for years...Performing Piety is an impressively thorough and well-written monograph, and an entirely enjoyable read to boot. Yardley has made an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of medieval musical practice.' - Ars Lyrica

From the Publisher