A universal part of Christian expression, the Psalms were a source of new music composition and performance in early modern Europe, as discussed in the 13 essays of this impressive collection.
The editors, Austern (musicology, Northwestern U.), Kari Boyd McBride (women's studies, U. of Arizona), and David L. Orvis (English, Appalachian State U.), open the text with a lengthy
introduction. Individual essay topics include studies of the Bay Psalm book, Juan de Avila's Audi, filia, William Byrd's English Psalms, and Sahagun's Psalmodia christiana. With each essay
offering in-depth treatment of current scholarship, this is a substantial contribution to the field. Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
