The Conductus is a non-liturgical Latin song that dominated European culture in the Middle Ages. This comprehensive book uses cutting-edge research to show how poetry and music interact, exploring the role of the Conductus in medieval society, and providing new perspectives on this important body of music and poetry.
During the Second Empire, from 1854 until 1870, the state had power over the Opera in ways that were without precedent. The Opera effectively became a branch of government. The result was a stagnation of the Opera's repertory, and beneficiaries were the composers of larger-scale works for competing theatre organisations.
Focusing on the vernacular motet in thirteenth-century France, this study explores its significance as a prestigious musical form bridging the Notre-Dame School and early Ars Nova. It examines how musicians and poets transformed existing materials into new works, analyzing the processes of texting and retexting. The book also delves into genre conception in this era, incorporating twentieth-century genre theory to enhance understanding. Ultimately, it presents the motet as a dynamic interplay of literary and musical elements, enriching the meaning of each composition.