Customer Reviews

The Notation of Medieval Music

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The vast majority of the people buying this book are probably buying it for class (like me) and have no say in the matter, so there's really no point in discussing the book itself. I will say, however, that if you need this book, look for a used copy of the first printing instead of one of these reprints. Pendragon scanned the original for this printing, and the plates of all the manuscripts you will probably need for your homework are much more clear in the original printing. Check the used market first.

This is a rather grungy reprint of an out of print work. In the introduction it claims that it has been reprinted as it has not been replaced in its particular slot in the market, despite more recent research in the area. One criticism which has been made is that it is too simplified, but there has to be a front door somewhere for people investigating a field new to them. It looks quite complicated to me, but perhaps when I have worked through it and inwardly digested, I will be looking to tackle greater complexities. Every esoteric field needs an introduction, and it perhaps says something about the modern academic world that nobody has written a better and more up to date one on this subject. Too many experts talking among themselves rather than to the rest of us.
One minor negative is that I cannot understand why, with all the technology available, the illustrations have to be reproduced in such a grainy, boggy way. Do they just think this will do because it is a technical subject, not a pretty book of illuminated manuscripts?
I anticipate that this book will be very useful to me.