Symbolic Scores is the first monograph on Renaissance music devoted to discussing more than 150 compositions which involve symbolism inspired by ideas and themes inherent in the musical culture of the time.
The introduction describes the historical and theoretical premises of the use of the terms 'allegory', 'sign', and 'symbol', and goes into the aspect of number symbolism as well as the aims, limits, and principles of musico-symbolical analysis. Other studies concentrate on Dufay and Josquin, deal with the symbolical application of soggetto ostinato and canon technique, or treat such themes as music for the dead and the Holy Virgin. The final study is about the conception of heavenly music and musical composition.
Symbolic Scores is finely illustrated and includes musical examples, and indices of compositions and names.