The Medieval Lyric - Tapa dura

With a new preface and substantial new bibliographic indications, this is the third edition of an introduction, first published in 1968, to the medieval lyric during the period 850-1300. After discussion of the performers and performance of lyrics in the Middle Ages, individual chapters analyze each of the major lyrical genres. While the rise of religious lyric and the transformations of love-lyric receive the fullest treatment, there are also chapters on women's songs, on the alba, on dance-songs, and on "lyrics of realism". Each chapter centres on close critical discussion of outstanding lyrics, with extensive quotation of texts and translations. The book concludes with a small selection of melodies of lyrics, and with a detailed chronological and bibliographical map of the whole field.

Peter Dronke is Professor of Medieval Latin Literature at the University of Cambridge.