Composer

:

Guillaume de Machaut

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Average_duration

:

2:45

'Fons tocius superbie/O livoris feritas/Fera pessima' is a motet composed by Guillaume de Machaut, a French poet and composer of the 14th century. The motet was composed in the 1350s and is believed to have been premiered in the court of King John II of France. The motet is divided into three movements, each with its own text and musical theme. The first movement, 'Fons tocius superbie', is a hymn to the Virgin Mary and is characterized by its soaring melodies and rich harmonies. The second movement, 'O livoris feritas', is a lamentation on the cruelty of fate and is marked by its mournful melodies and dissonant harmonies. The third movement, 'Fera pessima', is a warning against the dangers of sin and is characterized by its driving rhythms and urgent melodies. The motet is notable for its complex polyphonic structure, with multiple voices singing different melodies simultaneously. Machaut was a master of polyphony, and his use of intricate counterpoint and overlapping melodies in 'Fons tocius superbie/O livoris feritas/Fera pessima' is a testament to his skill as a composer. Overall, 'Fons tocius superbie/O livoris feritas/Fera pessima' is a powerful and emotionally charged work that showcases Machaut's mastery of polyphony and his ability to convey complex emotions through music. Its premiere in the court of King John II of France would have been a significant event, and the motet remains an important work in the history of Western classical music.

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