Sine Auctoritate Nulla Disciplina Est Perfecta: Medieval Music Theory in Search of Normative Foundations

Abstract

This chapter attempts to disentangle the semantic threads and sub-threads sufficiently to make it transparent that musica , like its sister disciplines, suffered from a crisis of normative and authoritative reasoning. It is important to note that practical music theory was in need of teaming up with other disciplines anyway. Unlike musica theorica , its speculative sister art, it was characterized by a lack of auctoritates , which would have provided a secure set of theoretical paradigms and principles. The gaping void of auctoritas within the field of music turns Isidore's statement sine musica nulla disciplina potest esse perfecta on its head. Rather than perfecting knowledge and learning, musica was itself in dire need of normative support. Hence, if Isidore's assessment should in any way correspond to the real difficulty medieval music theory had to face, it should read thus: auctoritate musica non est perfecta. Keywords:Isidore; medieval music theory; musica theorica ; normative foundations; Sine Auctoritate Nulla Disciplina Est Perfecta