This volume serves as a comprehensive research guide designed to organize and categorize the vast body of scholarly literature surrounding the madrigal. Susan Lewis-Hammond, a recognized scholar in musicology, compiles and annotates essential resources to assist researchers in navigating the complex history, performance practices, and cultural context of this vocal genre. The text provides a structured framework for locating primary and secondary sources, ranging from early theoretical treatises to modern analytical studies.

Scholars and music librarians frequently cite this work as a foundational reference tool for students and researchers specializing in Renaissance vocal music. The text is noted for its rigorous organization and its ability to synthesize disparate academic sources into a coherent, accessible bibliography.