Addressing questions about the musical life in English nunneries in the later Middle Ages, Yardley pieces together a mosaic of nunnery musical life, where even the smallest convents sang the monastic offices on a daily basis and many of the larger houses celebrated the late medieval liturgy in all of its complexity.
'...a text of limitless value and timeless relevance to all students of music, the middle ages and women religious.' - Lisa Padden, History of Women Religious in Britain and Ireland
'This excellent and accessible study is heartily recommended not only to those studying women's history, but also to anyone who is interested in gaining a better insight into medieval religious life, literature, music and spirituality.' - Lisa Colton, Early Music
'...a labour of love...Yardley's book is a major contribution and highly recommended to readers interested in English ecclesiastical history, monastic spirituality and musical practices in the Middle Ages.' - Ecclesiastical History
'...[Anne Bagnall Yardley] writes convincingly and persuasively of a topic she knows intimately. A richly rewarding book, it will be of great use for scholars of medieval monasticism and music history for years...Performing Piety is an impressively thorough and well-written monograph,and an entirely enjoyable read to boot. Yardley has made an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of medieval musical practice.' - Ars Lyrica
'This excellent and accessible study is heartily recommended not only to those studying women's history, but also to anyone who is interested in gaining a better insight into medieval religious life, literature, music and spirituality.' - Lisa Colton, Early Music
'...a labour of love...Yardley's book is a major contribution and highly recommended to readers interested in English ecclesiastical history, monastic spirituality and musical practices in the Middle Ages.' - Ecclesiastical History
'...[Anne Bagnall Yardley] writes convincingly and persuasively of a topic she knows intimately. A richly rewarding book, it will be of great use for scholars of medieval monasticism and music history for years...Performing Piety is an impressively thorough and well-written monograph,and an entirely enjoyable read to boot. Yardley has made an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of medieval musical practice.' - Ars Lyrica