The Rondeaux & Ballades of Guillaume de Machaut

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

Guillaume de Machaut, a prominent 14th-century French poet-composer, was instrumental in the ars nova musical wave and advanced the motet and secular forms such as rondel and ballade. He studied in Reims before serving John I of Luxembourg and later, Jean, Duc de Berry. By 1337, he took the role of a canon in Reims, focusing on writing and music composition. He created numerous prose, narrative poems, and a notable treatise on poetry. Christine de Pisan, Chaucer, and other musicians later drew inspiration from his works. This selection underscores his focus on courtly love conventions. The music for all but a few of the selected poems is extant, and available in many fine recordings. Rhyme schemes have been variously altered to achieve a workable verse translation, while hopefully not losing the 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.

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Kline, A. S.

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