This book investigates the tension between historical accuracy and creative license in the musical scoring of films set during the Middle Ages. John Haines, a scholar of musicology and medieval history, examines how composers utilize both authentic period instrumentation and modern cinematic tropes to construct a sonic representation of the medieval era. By analyzing a wide array of film scores, the author argues that the 'medieval sound' in cinema is a constructed aesthetic that often prioritizes audience expectation over musicological reality.

Scholars and film historians recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of medievalism in popular culture. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the musicological analysis, making it a valuable resource for students of both film studies and historical musicology.