This collection investigates the historical development, liturgical function, and scholarly legacy of medieval music within the English church. Edited by David Hiley and Susan Rankin, the volume compiles research from distinguished musicologists to commemorate the centenary of the Plainsong and Mediaeval Music Society. The contributors utilize primary source analysis and musicological inquiry to examine the intersection of monophonic chant and early polyphony in the context of the Roman Rite.

Experts regard this volume as a significant contribution to the study of medieval liturgical music and the history of musicology. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the specialized nature of the musical analysis provided by the contributors.