1. Guillame de Machaut and
the Ars Nova
The 14th
century Musical Style or School

2. What is the Ars Nova?
 Translates from Latin to “New Art”.
 Developed after the Hundred Year’s War and
the Black Plague weakened the influence of
the Church and the feudal system.
 Secular music surpassed sacred music in
importance.
 Polyphony was not based on chant.
 New notation allowed nearly any rhythmic
pattern to be written- including syncopations.

3. Guillaume de Machaut
 Famous as a composer and poet
 Spent most of his life in service to royalty
 Presented his patrons with beautifully
decorated copies of his music and poetry
 Output consists mainly of courtly love songs-
songs nobly and chivalrously expressing love
 Did work for the church in his later life

4. Puis qu’en Oubli sui de vous
 From Machaut’s Le Livre Dou Voit Dir (The
Book of the True Poem)
 Contains eight lines, each ending in –mis or –
mant
 Form- abaaabab
 Written for four voices

5. Translation of Puis qu’en oubli
Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend,
I say farewell to joy and life of love.
Ill-fated was the day I placed my love in you,
Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend.
But what I have promised you I will maintain,
Which is that I shall never have any other lover.
Since I am forgotten by you, sweet friend,
I say farewell to joy and life of love

6. Notre Dame Mass
 First known Polyphonic arrangement of the
Mass Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo,
Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
 Written for four voices
 Composed in the early 1360’s

7. The Angus Dei
 Solemn and elaborate
 Two higher voices form more rhythmically
active and contain syncopations
 Lower parts play a supporting role, move in
longer notes
 Based on a chant, which is placed in one of
the lower parts
 Form: ABA
 Three sections represent the Holy Trinity