Medieval Music Manuscripts: Treasures of Sight and Sound
By Sarah J. Pruett
Lustre: Spiritual Treasures and Sensory Pleasures (University of Houston, Texas, 2005)
Introduction: The modern musical notation system developed over many centuries, but its roots lie in the medieval world. Medieval music began as a part of the Catholic Church and flourished as the power of the Church grew. Eventually, music spread into the secular world as a burgeoning art form. Like other forms of medieval manuscripts, those containing music provided an opportunity for artists (other than the composer, author, or poet) to express themselves through the decoration of the manuscript. The medieval musical manuscripts that remain hold insights not only into the music of the past, but also into the artistic practices of the past.
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