This new and illuminating study of medieval polyphony examines the links between music and contemporary political, civil and religious events. The period from the second half of the twelfth century to the second half of the fifteenth is of great historical interest since it marks the development of polyphonic forms and the birth of mensural music. There is also the earliest evidence of individual composers, from Leonin and Perotin to Machaut, Landini and Dufay. Alberto Gallo pays particular attention to the elaboration of refined techniques of composing, often drawing a parallel with the...