Description
Book SynopsisJames Grier documents the musical activities of AdÃmar de Chabannes, eleventh-century monk, historian, homilist and tireless polemicist for the apostolic status of Saint Martial, patron saint of the abbey that bore his name in Limoges. AdÃmar left behind some 451 folios of music with notation in his autograph hand, a musical resource without equal before the seventeenth century. He introduced, at strategic moments, pieces familiar from the standard liturgy for an apostle and items of his own composition. These reveal AdÃmar to be a supremely able designer of liturgies and a highly original composer. This study analyses his accomplishments as a musical scribe, compiler of liturgies, editor of existing musical works and composer; it also offers a speculative consideration of his abilities as a singer; and finally, it places AdÃmar's musical activities in the context of liturgical, musical and political developments at the abbey of Saint Martial in Limoges.
Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'To have identified a substantial body of music composed by and copied in the hand of this eleventh-century monk represents a breathtaking synthesis of research that few medievalists would have deemed possible several decades ago. To be able to date much of the music and its copying to a six-month period in the year 1029 is simply stunning. And to have such a musical œuvre accessible from someone in the first half of the eleventh century is unprecedented. If anyone doubts that real history can be as captivating as the best fiction, come meet Adémar and read this book.' Journal of the American Musicological Society
Table of ContentsIntroduction. Adémar de Chabannes and Saint Martial de Limoges; Music scribe; Compiler; Editor; Composer; Singer; Conclusion. The success of the Apostolic Campaign; Appendix A. Manuscripts with Adémar's music hand; Appendix B. Adémar's original compositions; Bibliography.
