Guillaume de Machaut approx. 1300 - 1377
To understand the composer Guillaume de Machaut, it is essential to understand the period in which he lived. It was the time when the Ars nova(new art) Period of music was flourishing in France and then throughout Europe. The term itself correlates to its predecessor the Ars antiqua (old art) Period(1240-1320). Both of these periods refer to the earliest developments of polyphony, the usage of several voices in music. Before this, the idea of playing music was still based on a single voice and melody(monophonic - plainchant). - If you can imagine a single or a group of priests chanting in Catholic church(Gregorian Chant), this is exactly what that was.
The first attempt at polyphony was called Parallel-Organum. It was VERY simple… A second voice was used to ornament the chant, but did not vary its rhythm whatsoever. It was almost like a ‘shadowing voice’. After this, composers started to make this second voice a bit more rhythmically independent and more voices were added, although it was not until the period of Ars antiqua that each of the different voices were actually given a different text. All of these happenings led up to the period of Ars nova and Guillaume de Machaut, one of the first and foremost composers of the movement which lasted from approximately 1320 - 1380. This was a period in which the idea of rhythmically and harmonic independence of various voices was taken to the next step.
Not much is known about his early life. He was probably born in Rheims or possibly in Machaut, France. From 1323-1346, he worked as a secretary for Johann von Luxemburg, the King of Bohemia. He was quite well known not only as a composer but also as a poet. His first composition, a motet, was written in 1324 for the Archbishop of Rheims. In 1337, his service to the king led to his position as priest of the gothic cathedral in Rheims. Three years after his appointment, he ended up taking residency in Rheims, leaving his normal duties but staying in service to the king up until the monarch’s death in 1346. From 1961-1969 he resided on Cyprus at the court of Pierre de Lusignans, not returning to Rheims until 1369.
All in all, he wrote more than 140 compositions, most of which were polyphonic. He was known to experiment with both religious as well as secular music. Guillaume de Machaut was one of the leading composers, if not one of the best composers, during this period. He was the first person believed to utilize the syncopated rhythm (*- a rhythm stressing or accenting a weak beat.) His patrons included John, Duke of Berry and the future King Charles V of France. His best work, Messe de Nostre Dame, written in 1364, is one of the most noted compositions of the entire period. It is believed to have been written for the crowning of King Charles V. (* - A mass is a musical form consisting of the five movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Snactus / Benedictus, and Agnus Dei.) Machaut wrote Messe de Nostre Dame polyphonically rather than plainchant. In addition to this fact, he was the first person to compose an entire mass all on his own. It was customary during the time period to have several different composers write various parts of a mass. This along with his rhythmical and musical techniques made him one of the main contributors to the mass becoming a musical form in itself. This composer, also known as “the last great poet who was also a composer,” was talented and innovative, contributing to the development of music in general. Due to this, he became representative of the entire period and was a great influence on many composers to come.
To listen to a piece by this composer, click here
