Guillaume de Machaut

Question 1

Guillaume de Machaut musical style and contributions

Answer 1

• most celebrated and significant composer of French ars nova style
• contributed to both sacred and secular music
• used greater variety of intervals (including thirds and sixths) and employed highly sophisticated contrapuntal techniques
• 14th-century rhythmic complexity is demonstrated
• wrote both monophonic and polyphonic chansons; monophonic chansons represent a continuation of the trouvère tradition
• frequently wrote his own poetry, using fixed poetic forms
• his works were often longer and more complex than those of the Ars antiqua
• composed the first complete polyphonic setting of Mass Ordinary - Messe de Nostre Dame

Question 2

How did Machaut demonstrate rhythmic complexity?

Answer 2

in his use of:

• sycopation
• hocket
• isorhythm

Question 3

Which fixed poetry forms did Machaut use?

Answer 3

• rondeau
• ballade
• virelai