Editorial Reviews

Review

"The whole book portrays the author's distinctive ability to master an impressive amount of documentary materials and the extensive bibliography published in centuries of scholarly investigation on the City of the Lily...This book, complemented by thirty-two beautifully rendered color plates that give a hint of these impressive volumes produced in medieval and Renaissance Florence, will soon become an indispensable tool for the study of the history of the liturgy at Florence as well as a model for future studies on liturgical books in premodern European churches."

-Luisa Nardini, University of Texas, Journal of Medieval Studies

Product Description

The service books of the Florentine Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore reflected the city's position of power and prestige. Largely unexplored by modern scholars, these manuscripts provided the texts and music necessary for the celebration of the liturgical services. Marica S. Tacconi examines comprehensively the sixty-five extant liturgical manuscripts produced between 1150 and 1526 for both Santa Maria del Fiore and its predecessor, the early cathedral of Santa Reparata. Her study provides new insights into late medieval and Renaissance Florentine ritual and culture, from liturgical, musical and artistic perspectives.

Book Description

The service books of the Florentine Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore were, like the church itself, a cultural reflection of the city's position of power and prestige. They contained the text and music of liturgical services. Marica S. Tacconi offers the first comprehensive investigation of the sixty-five extant liturgical manuscripts produced between 1150 and 1526 for both Santa Maria del Fiore and its predecessor, the early cathedral of Santa Reparata. This important and fascinating study provides new insights into late medieval and Renaissance Florentine ritual and culture.

About the Author

Marica S. Tacconi is Associate Professor of Musicology at the Pennsylvania State University and Associate Director of its Institute for the Arts and Humanities.