Machaut: Puis qu'en oubli

Author


Guillaume de Machaut (French, 1300-1377):

  • took holy orders at an early age
  • later became secretary to John of Luxembourg, king of Bohemia.
  • active in the court of Charles, duke of Normandy
  • spent his later life as a canon at the Cathedral of Rheims
  • Wikipedia Article

Time and Place

  • Ars nova era, mid 14th century
  • Written in France

About the Piece

(much of the description comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)
  • Genre is polyphonic chanson in 3 voices
  • form: A-B-a-A-a-b-A-B
  • Alternates between two different (melodic) phrases
  • relatively low (male voice) range, but a decently wide range none the less
  • very fluid and smooth
  • slow
  • emphasis on the word sui
  • language is (Middle) French
  • title means "Since I am forgotten"

Purpose

  • Secular
  • Very sad song
  • author morns unrequited love

Reflections


I really like this song. The mornful tune fits so well with the text; it reminds me of something the modern-day band Evanescence would have sung in the Ars Nova era. For some reason, sad songs sound more like art to me than happy ones, perhaps because I feel like the artist is being honest with me.