In Quartet for the End of Time, and in subsequent works, the French 20th century composer, Olivier Messiaen, sought to capture the “eternity of space and time.” According to the composer, the mystical endeavor resulted in bar line defying polyrhythmic structures which unfold independently of harmony and melody, “in the manner of Guillaume de Machaut [c.1300–1377], whose work I did not know at the time.”
A leading figure in the 14th century ars nova movement, and perhaps the most significant composer of the Middle Ages, Machaut composed both sacred and secular music. His career centered around Reims Cathedral.
Machaut’s Encor y a maint ressort; ramembrer, imaginer (“Still there are many springs; to re-member, to imagine”) unfolds with the time-altering sense of stasis we hear in the music of Messiaen, composed six hundred years later. Predating the birth of J.S. Bach by some three hundred years, this music floats on a serene modal sea, free from the goal-oriented pull of tonality.
Guillaume de Machaut was a prolific poet who influenced Geoffrey Chaucer. Poetry and music blend in the monophonic courtly love song, Je vivroie liement (“I should lead a happy life”). The song is a modified version of the virelai form. A translation of the text is provided below. This performance features the Swedish Medieval ensemble, Falsobordone:
I should lead a happy life,sweet creature,if only you truly realizedthat you where the cause of allmy concern.Lady of cheerful bearing,pleasing, bright and pure,often the woe I sufferto serve you loyallymakes me say ‘alas!’And you may be surethat I can in no wisego on living like this, if it lastsany longerFor you are merciless to meand pitilessly obdurate,and have put such longinginto my heartthat it will certainly diea most dismal death,unless for its reliefyour mercy is soonready.
Recordings
- Machaut: Je vivroie liement falsobordone.se
Featured Image: “Je vivroie liement,”Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Fonds Français 1584
Wonderful music, and from the 14th century! I wonder if this early music, as you described it, could be considered “pre-tonal” as opposed to 20th century atonal music, or perhaps post-tonal?
Absolutely mesmerized while listening to this ancient music which, as you so eloquently describe, “floats on a serene modal sea.” Beautiful! How wonderful to discover Guillaume de Machaut!