The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth Century: A Historical Introduction and Guide for Students and Musicians

by John Harper

An introduction to the principal forms and orders of Western liturgy between about 900 and 1700, this book explains their nature and basic historical origin, and presents in detail the contents and orders of principal services as well as additional and special forms of worship. This book emphasizes the mainstream of Western liturgy derived from the medieval Roman Rite as found in secular and monastic churches. After the Reformation it concentrates on the rites of the Roman Catholic church and the Church of England. Harper discusses the nature of liturgy and provides an historical summary and individual chapters on medieval churches and their communities, the Christian calendar, medieval liturgical books, the Psalms, the Office, the Mass, Processions and Additional Observances, Holy Week and Easter, the Tridentine Rite, and the English Book of Common Prayer. Harper concludes with two chapters which raise the problems of establishing the order of a liturgical service, and
introduces selected medieval sources accessible in facsimile or edition. A select, annotated bibliography and a glossary of ecclesiastical and liturgical terms are included.

Genres: Music, Religion

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1991

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Reviews

[Ella]

Read for Manuscript Studies options course.

[William Nist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essential solidification of Western Liturgical practice happened in the 9th thru the 19th century. This book explicates the changes and development of both the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours), and the Mass during that period. The book is clear, with plenty of references, and makes a confusing topic a little easier to understand. The appendices have very useful information, and the glossary is complete and very useful.

If you are looking for the history and information about the formation, structure and order, content, and the changes in the Divine Office; the bifurcation of the office into Monastic and Secular; the Liturgical year and calendar; the relation of the Roman office to the Anglican version of Morning and Evensong - this volume covers all of these areas.

The book is not concerned with the changes to the Tridentine liturgy that occurred in the 1970's.

I would say this volume in indispensable to the student of this topic, and while I have read several other related works, the clarity of this book is worthy of mention.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book I would ordinarily read but it is on the reading list for fabulous recent course I took at the Morgan Library "Introduction to Illustrated Medieval Manuscripts." It was perfect background for that, as most of the manuscripts are religious.