Composer

:

Guillaume Dufay

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Rondeau (Vocal)

Compose Date

:

before 1450

Average_duration

:

3:27

"Las, que feray? ne que je devenray?" is a chanson composed by Guillaume Dufay, a prominent composer of the early Renaissance period. The piece was likely composed in the early 1430s, during Dufay's time in the service of the Malatesta family in Rimini, Italy. The chanson is written for three voices, with the upper two voices singing in close harmony and the third voice providing a lower, more independent line. The text is in French and tells the story of a lover who is torn between two women, unsure of which to choose. The title translates to "Alas, what shall I do? Where shall I turn?" The piece is structured in three distinct sections, each with its own melodic material and character. The first section is slow and contemplative, with the voices moving in parallel motion and the melody emphasizing the melancholy mood of the text. The second section is faster and more rhythmic, with the voices weaving in and out of each other in a lively dance-like texture. The final section returns to the slower, more contemplative mood of the opening, with the voices once again moving in parallel motion. One of the most striking characteristics of "Las, que feray?" is its use of dissonance. Dufay employs a number of dissonant intervals throughout the piece, particularly in the second section, which gives the music a sense of tension and urgency. However, these dissonances are always resolved in a satisfying way, creating a sense of resolution and closure. Overall, "Las, que feray?" is a beautiful example of Dufay's skill as a composer. Its intricate harmonies, expressive melodies, and thoughtful text setting make it a masterpiece of the early Renaissance period.

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