The Ceremonial Musicians of Late Medieval Florence [Hardcover]

The Ceremonial Musicians of Late Medieval Florence follows the development of Florentine musical ensembles, describing their duties and repertories, placing them in their political and social context, and tracing their changes through the years of the Florentine Republic. From the 13th through the 16th centuries, the city of Florence was the most powerful in Europe. It was a center of finance and trade, as well as art and music. The Republic employed musicians to perform for the enormous number of ceremonial events each year. These musicians were the most visible (and audible) symbols of Florence, playing a major role in displaying the majestic image of the city. Their story, repertory, high-profile involvement in the daily life of the city, and close involvement with the Medici add a new dimension to the history of late-medieval Florence.

After laying out the fascinating array of Florentine religious and secular events in which musicians were called to perform, McGee provides a rich account of the creation and growth of ensembles, the personnel involved, and the instruments used by them. . . . As a fruitful trove of particulars illuminating the civic musical life of Florence over several centuries, McGees book will be a welcome addition to the library of the general reader and specialist alike.Spring 2010

Preface
1. Ceremonial Florence
2. The Trombadori
3. The Civic Herald
4. Revising the Ceremonial Traditions
5. Civic Music and the Medici
6. The Civic Musicians and Their Repertories
Notes
Bibliography
Index

[This book], the product of over three decades of research, unearths new aspects of civic music-making in Florence from the 13th to the early 16th centuries. . . The Ceremonial Musicians of Late Medieval Florence is a must for readers interested in music within the framework of Florentine culture. 38.1 2010McGee is without question the leading authority on civic patronage of music in Florence and this book will be centrall3C