Music and medieval liturgy in the Biblioteca de Catalunya (9th-13th centuries)

Book excerpt: This publication edited by Dr. Maria Incoronata Colantuono presents an accurate selection of musical and liturgical medieval texts from the 9th to 13th century, preserved at the Biblioteca de Catalunya. By means of this compilation, the different authors of this work introduce and explain fundamental concepts about the relationship between music and church such as neumes, Gregorian chants, the ecclesiastical centres in Catalonia or the main architectural styles of the moment. The work contains interviews with specialists who provide a wide vision of the music and liturgy; among them, Jesús Alturo, Juan Carlos Asensio, Joaquim Garrigosa i Massana, Katarina Livljanic and Eduardo Carrero. The book, which encompasses musical performances by Juan Carlos Asensio and Antoni Rossell, concludes with an extensive bibliography and a list of digital resources that contribute to improve the research and scholar studies.