Composer

:

Guillaume de Machaut

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Virelai

Compose Date

:

before 1340

Average_duration

:

2:43

"Comment qu'a moy lonteinne" is a chanson composed by Guillaume de Machaut, a French poet and composer of the 14th century. The chanson was likely composed in the 1350s and is one of Machaut's most famous works. It was likely written for a noble patron, as was common for Machaut's compositions. The chanson is in three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is slow and mournful, with a melody that rises and falls in a plaintive manner. The second movement is more lively, with a faster tempo and a more complex melody. The third movement returns to the slower tempo of the first, but with a more hopeful and optimistic tone. The lyrics of "Comment qu'a moy lonteinne" are in the form of a love poem, with the speaker expressing his longing for a distant lover. The poem is full of vivid imagery, with the speaker describing the pain of separation and the beauty of his beloved. The poem is notable for its use of repetition, with the phrase "comment qu'a moy" (how it is with me) repeated throughout the chanson. Machaut's composition is notable for its use of complex harmonies and counterpoint. The melody is often divided between different voices, with each voice contributing to the overall texture of the piece. The chanson also features a number of musical devices, such as syncopation and melodic ornamentation, that add to its complexity and beauty. "Comment qu'a moy lonteinne" premiered in the court of a noble patron, likely in France. It quickly became popular and was widely performed throughout Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, it is considered one of Machaut's most important works and is still performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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