Four new book reviews have just been published in the Journal of the Society for Musicology in Ireland, covering books on Hans Keller, William Lawes, Eduard Hanslick and a volume on sacred music from 1850 to Vatican II. A range of other articles are available free of charge from the journal’s website.

From Edward Schaefer’s review of the Paul Collins edited volume on sacred music:

Collins has carefully chosen a selection of essays, each of which gives a particular viewpoint of the liturgical reform movement from the mid-nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. On the surface it might appear that their relationship is rather loose, simply demonstrating the pattern of action and reaction that Day eloquently summarizes. However, they unfold something much more profound.