This book is a history of the early musical life of the Parisian cathedral of Notre Dame.

Part I. Introduction: 1. The church, the clergy, and the cloister; Part II. Chant and Liturgy: 2. Aspects of Parisian chant and liturgy; 3. The Shape of liturgy in the Late Middle Ages; Part III. The Wondrous Machine: 4. The organ; Part IV. Personnel and Institutions: 5. The choirboys; 6. The church and the court; Part V. Repertoire, Composers, and Performance: 7. Gothic polyphony; 8. Composers; 9. Traditions of musical performance; Part VI. Conclusion.