Guillame de Machaut and the Ars Nova

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Guillame de Machaut and the Ars Nova

• The 14th century

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What is the Ars Nova?

• Translates from Latin to New Art
• Developed after the Hundred Years War and the
  Black Plague weakened the influence of the Church
  and the feudal system
• Secular music surpassed sacred music in
  importance
• Polyphony was not based on chant
• New notation allowed nearly any rhythmic pattern
  to be written- including syncopations

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Guillaume de Machaut

• Famous as a composer and poet
• Spent most of his life in service to royalty
• Presented his patrons with beautifully decorated
  copies of his music and poetry
• Output consists mainly of courtly love songs-
  songs nobly and chivalrously expressing love
• Did work for the church in his later life

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Puis quen Oubli sui de vous

• From Machauts Le Livre Dou Voit Dir (The Book of
  the True Poem)
• Contains eight lines, each ending in mis or
  mant
• Form- abaaabab
• Written for four voices

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Translation of Puis quen oubli

• Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend,
• I say farewell to joy and life of love.
• Ill-fated was the day I placed my love in you,
• Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend.
• But what I have promised you I will maintain,
• Which is that I shall never have any other lover.
• Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend,
• I say farewell to joy and life of love

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Notre Dame Mass

• First known Polyphonic arrangement of the Mass
  Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus
  Dei)
• Written for four voices
• Composed in the early 1360s

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The Angus Dei

• Solemn and elaborate
• Two higher voices form more rhythmically active
  and contain syncopations
• Lower parts play a supporting role, move in
  longer notes
• Based on a chant, which is placed in one of the
  lower parts
• Form ABA
• Three sections represent the Holy Trinity