Kyrie from Messe de Nostre Dame

Question 1

Kyrie from Messes de Nostre Dame background information

Answer 1

• genre: Kyrie, the first movement of the Mass Ordinary
• Guillaume Machaut
• composition date: ca 1350
• source of text: Mass Ordinary
• Greek
• polyphonic
• 4 voices (triplum, motetus, tenor, contratenor)
• singers; parts may have been reinforced by instruments
• borrowed material: cantus firmus in tenor is based on the plainchant Kyrie cunctipotens genitor Deus from Gregorian Mass IV
• 3 sections; text follows ABA form

Question 2

Kyrie from Messes de Nostre Dame essay sections

Answer 2

• (beginning)

- (later)

Question 3

Kyrie from Messes de Nostre Dame (beginning)

Answer 3

• based on Dorian mode; in triple meter
• isorhythm employed in tenor voice; melodic pattern (color) is based on material borrowed from a 10th-century plainchant
• repeated rhythmic and melodic patterns characterize the vocal lines
• wide melodic leaps occur frequently

Question 4

Kyrie from Messes de Nostre Dame (later)

Answer 4

• hocket occurs (at m.22), where the triplum and motetus voices weave notes with rests to create an interesting texture
• singers would have applied musica ficta (accidentals were not notated in the original score) to leading tones at cadence points