Composer

:

Guillaume de Machaut

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Rondeau

Compose Date

:

before 1350

Average_duration

:

4:24

"Ma fin est mon commencement" is a chanson composed by Guillaume de Machaut, a French poet and composer of the 14th century. The chanson was composed in the 1350s and is considered one of Machaut's most famous works. It was premiered in the court of King John II of France, where Machaut was a court musician. The chanson is written in the form of a rondeau, a popular form of French poetry in the Middle Ages. It consists of three stanzas, each followed by a refrain. The refrain, "Ma fin est mon commencement," which translates to "My end is my beginning," is repeated throughout the chanson, giving it a circular structure. The first stanza of the chanson describes the speaker's journey through life, from birth to death. The second stanza reflects on the speaker's accomplishments and failures, and the third stanza contemplates the inevitability of death and the hope for eternal life. The chanson is characterized by its complex musical structure, which features intricate polyphony and rhythmic complexity. Machaut was known for his innovative use of musical notation, and "Ma fin est mon commencement" is no exception. The chanson features a unique system of notation that allows for the simultaneous performance of multiple voices, creating a rich and complex musical texture. Overall, "Ma fin est mon commencement" is a masterpiece of medieval music and poetry. Its circular structure and contemplation of life and death make it a timeless work that continues to captivate audiences today.

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