Music Research and Composition professor James Grier has been named a recipient of the Margaret Wage Labarge Prize for his book, Ademari Cabannensis, Opera Liturgica et Poetica: Musica cum Textibus, by the Canadian Society of Medievalists. The prize recognizes any book in the field of medieval studies, authored or co-authored, translated or co-translated, edited or co-edited, by a Canadian or resident of Canada.
Grier’s book is a two-volume critical edition of the works of the 11th century monk Adémar of Chabannes. Many of the musical texts transcribed in the book have not previously appeared in modern editions.
Award committee members praised the meticulous scholarship evident in the introduction and the transcriptions, and noted the similarly high quality of the philological work. They also drew attention to the “elegance and clarity of the written presentation.” The committee believed the work not only makes a significant contribution to medieval musicology, but those contributions will be of lasting scholarly value.
The prize consists of an honorary membership in the society for three years, $300 and a calligraphic certificate commemorating of his achievement.