Composer

:

Guillaume de Machaut

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Virelai

Average_duration

:

2:17

"J'aim sans penser laidure" 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 premiered at the court of John II of France, where Machaut was a canon and secretary. The chanson is written in the form of a rondeau, a popular form of secular song in the Middle Ages. It consists of three stanzas, each followed by a refrain. The refrain, "J'aim sans penser laidure," translates to "I love without thinking of ugliness." The chanson is written in the first person, with the speaker expressing their love for a woman who is not conventionally beautiful. The first stanza describes the speaker's love for the woman, despite her lack of physical beauty. The second stanza describes the woman's virtues, including her kindness and intelligence. The third stanza expresses the speaker's desire to be with the woman, even if it means enduring hardship. The chanson is characterized by its complex musical structure and intricate harmonies. It is written in the Ars Nova style, which was popular in France in the 14th century. The chanson features a complex rhythmic structure, with multiple voices singing different rhythms simultaneously. The harmonies are also complex, with dissonant chords and unexpected chord progressions. Overall, "J'aim sans penser laidure" is a beautiful and complex work of music and poetry. It is a testament to Machaut's skill as a composer and his ability to create works that are both musically and lyrically complex.

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