Dufay

by David Fallows

Dufay now stands unchallenged as the leading composer of the Middle Ages. Performances of his music are increasingly frequent, and most of it can be heard on commercial recordings, so it is time for a study of his life and work that attempts to show why he has found so much favour with performers and listeners today. Over the last 30 years and particularly over the last decade, an enormous burst of scholarly endeavour has added immeasurably to our knowledge of the subject. This book is primarily an attempt to assemble the most important of that information which was hitherto available only in the articles, dissertations and books produced in many parts of Europe and the United States. Includes 80 music examples, 12 pages of photographs, and three maps.

Genres: Music, Biography

326 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1982

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I love medieval music and because Fallows' book on Josquin was so enjoyable.
Dufay, about 15th century composer Guillaume Dufay, was just as good. Fallows does an excellent job not only of narrating Dufay's biography, but also of explaining and analyzing the relevant documentary evidence and how he fleshed out the narrative from the evidence. Dufay's life is pretty interesting, too. He rose from rather hazy and fairly humble beginnings to become recognized as the greatest composer of the day during his lifetime. He served courts in France, Burgundy, and Italy and wrote music for some significant occasions. Of these last, the most notable is his motet "Nuper rosarum flores", written for the dedication of the Florence cathedral when Brunelleschi's dome was finished.
Fallows' descriptions and analyses of Dufay's music are just as compelling as his presentation of the biographical material. Fallows is always insightful without getting overly technical or pedantic. Plus, his language is very clear, largely without the obfuscation that creeps into a lot of academic writing. Best of all, Fallows' love and enthusiasm for this music is continually palpable and quite infectious.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pelos extremos cuidado e pesquisa, bem como o detalhamento da obra, não é possível nota menor que 5 estrelas. Complexo de entender não pela dficuldade comunicativa, mas pelo excessivo amontoado de informações disponibilizado. O livro extrai leite de pedra ao examinar alusões e conseguir reconstruir uma lógica sobre a produção musical de Dufay, mas é de difícil apreensão.