The Virelais of Guillaume de Machaut

Machaut, Guillaume de (c. 1300–1377), translated by Kline, A. S. (contact-email)

Guillaume de Machaut, a pivotal 14th-century French musician-poet, played a key role in the ars nova movement trend and enriched musical forms like the motet, rondel, and ballade. He studied in Reims and served John I of Luxembourg and later the Duc de Berry. From 1337, based in Reims, he centred on writing, composing, and curating his collections. His extensive output encompasses prose, narratives, and works like the Prologue and Le Livre du Voir Dit, which details a potential romance with poet Péronne d’Armentières. He left a lasting legacy on composers and poets like Christine de Pisan and Chaucer. The virelai, termed by Machaut as chansons balladées, along with the ballade and rondeau, were three dominant forms from the 13th to 15th centuries, often set to tunes. Rhyme schemes have been variously altered, to achieve workable verse translations, while retaining the meaning and flavour of the original.

Author Details

Guillaume de Machaut, born circa 1300AD near Reims, France, is a major figure in late medieval music, particularly in the “ars nova” style. His diverse roles included serving as secretary to John I, Count of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia, and holding positions as a canon of the Church, in cities including Verdun, Arras, and Reims. His travels across Europe with John I significantly influenced his work.

Machaut’s musical legacy is marked by versatility, and covers motets and secular songs. His “Messe de Nostre Dame” is particularly notable as the earliest complete setting of the Mass by a single composer. His rondeaux “Ma fin est mon commencement” and “Rose, liz, printemps, verdure,” and the virelai “Douce Dame Jolie” demonstrate his skill in melody and structure.

Complementing his musical accomplishments, Machaut was a prolific poet, writing about 400 poems primarily focusing on courtly love, and known for their intricate rhyme schemes. His narrative prose “dits” offer autobiographical, allegorical and philosophical content. His poetry influenced both Geoffrey Chaucer and Eustache Deschamps, who was Machaut’s pupil, and marked his mentor’s death in two notable ballades.

More by this author

Read Now Download

Kline, A. S.

Support Open-Access:

Your contribution keeps our classical translations available to all. Every dollar helps support classics education and funds the expansion of our catalogue. Value what we do? Donate now.

File Downloads:

PDF

Mobi

Epub

MS Word

Html