The poet and composer Guillaume de Machaut is unique in the fourteenth century for his massive complete-works volumes. However, a potentially anachronistic view of the poet-composer’s relation to auctoritas has developed in modern deliberations on Machaut. In this thesis I challenge these current notions. Beginning with a review of select secondary literature in Chapter II, I focus on the ways scholarly consensus has foregrounded an ultimately authoritative author persona at the exclusion of other agents involved in the compilation of Machaut’s works. In Chapter III I approach the question of authority from the perspective of Machaut’s own writing through a close reading of select narrative passages and embedded letters in the Livre dou Voir Dit. The analyses of four examples of later-added contratenors to select works by Machaut in the posthumous MS E (1390) are the focus of Chapter IV.

Texte remanié de: Th. doct.--Lettres--Paris IV, 1993. / Bibliogr. p. 429-446. Index.

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Diss. Ph. D.--Mus.--Princeton, N.J.--Princeton University, 1983. / Bibliogr. p. 424-448.

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British composer Tarik Hamilton O’Regan (b. 1978, London) is earning a reputation as an important composer of today. The innovative works of O’Regan are entering the spectrum of professional, educational, and community performing organizations across the United States and Europe. Scattered Rhymes’ intricate melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic relationships with Messe de Notre Dame by Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377) make an examination and comparison of the two works significant. Analyzing Scattered Rhymes by tracing its roots to Guillaume de Machaut’s Messe de Notre Dame, results in a renewed interest in this ancient work and brings prominence to Tarik O’Regan’s modern musical interpretation of ancient ideas. Understanding Scattered Rhymes as a work based on ideas from the fourteenth century in fusion with compositional concepts rooted in the modern era promotes Scattered Rhymes as one that is valuable in the current musical landscape.

Guillaume de Machaut’s motets constitute a cycle. This study focuses upon Machaut’s six Latin texted motets and their influence upon these cyclical contexts. Former research into these motets has uncovered references to contemporary poetry, liturgical texts, literary sources, particular persons, and historical events. Through an examination of recent research into the cyclical nature of the motets it is possible to critically evaluate these hypotheses in the light of the past historical, codicological, liturgical, musical and poetic analysis of these works to create a rounded picture of each motet. In this way it was found that many of the previously researched aspects of the motets follow in line with recent theories surrounding motet grouping structures. In this way when placing these works within a mystical theological literary context their sacred nature, evident within the tenor chant fragments upon which many of them are built, becomes evident and a greater plan apparent. Beyond this, with an examination of Machaut’s life and the events which occurred in his lifetime the context for composition of the remaining motets is unearthed. Within these motets elements have now been identified which link them to Machaut’s canonries at both Saint Quentin and Reims as well as the events of the Hundred Years’ War. In this way the deep connection between Machaut’s motets and all levels of his life is becoming increasingly apparent. Through an examination of these six Latin texted motets it is found that a liturgical context is key to the analysis of all voices. This is apparent in the mere use of vocabulary idiomatic to the liturgy present within these texts. In this way the selection of words within motet 21 points to a Marian allusion and the apocalyptic, drawing motet 21 even closer in context to motets 22-23. This apocalyptic reference is also seen in specific words within in triplum text of motet 22. Furthermore, the Marian allusions discovered throughout these last three motets in their upper voices are apparent only with a close examination of the Salve Regina texts. In this way the influence and importance of liturgical context to the analysis of the motet has been extended to all voices. This study has also uncovered allusions to other fourteenth century works in the analysis of Machaut’s motets. In the case of motet 9 a connection between its chant tenor and another from the Roman de Fauvel reveals a political context which brings an added richness to the interpretation of these texts. Furthermore, as with motets 18-19, it may be gleaned that as Machaut and Vitry were both canons at Saint Quentin that perhaps it was here and with these two motets that Machaut began his tutelage with the older master of the motet. These conclusions may be drawn by the striking similarities between Machaut’s works and those believed to have originated from within the Vitry circle. In the course of this study there have been additions to evidence the necessity of looking to all aspects of Guillaume de Machaut’s motets in their analysis. This includes use of numerical symbolism in varying aspects as shown in motet 9 as well as a thorough exploration of Machaut’s use of vocabulary within his texts to find its literary, historical, motet, and liturgical allusions. The identification of these sources may either serve to reinforce or expand the context of the motet leading to a deeper understanding of its purpose within a group of motets or individually.

La Prise d’Alexandrie est une chronique rimée retraçant les exploits de Pierre Ier de Lusignan (1328-1369), roi de Chypre et de Jérusalem, nouveau Godefroy de Bouillon ; elle a été composée par Guillaume de Machaut vers 1370, peu après le meurtre de Pierre Ier ; ce régicide avait soulevé une très vive émotion en Occident, en particulier en France, qui connaissait par ailleurs une grave crise. Cette chronique, à la fois récit historique, épopée, éloge posthume, hagiographie, poème lyrique, est la dernière oeuvre d’un auteur connu etre connu ; on peut considérer cette biographie royale comme le testament de Guillaume de Machaut, le couronnement de son oeuvre. La Prise d’Alexandrie est le récit d’une croisade, une croisade qui ne se vit plus sur les champs de bataille, mais qui se joue dans les cours royales et papales ; une croisade qui ne se vit plus, mais qui se dit ; une croisade qui se marchande aussi ; une croisade menée par un poète : Machaut a en effet composé ici une véritable satire de son siècle.A travers notre travail, nous souhaitons faire découvrir ou redécouvrir cette oeuvre mal connue ; nous fournissons, avec le texte original et sa traduction, la description des manuscrits, une présentation de l’auteur et de son oeuvre, une étude littéraire et une analyse linguistique du texte, des notes critiques, un glossaire, un index des noms propres, la liste des proverbes et expressions, une chronologie des événements et une bibliographie sélective. / The Take of Alexandria is a rhymed narrative which recounts the exploits of Peter I of Lusignan, kingof Cyprus and Jerusalem, new Godefrey of Bouillon ; it was written by Guillaume de Machaut around 1370, justafter Peter’s murder; this murder moved deeply the French people, and the West, which was moreover in crisis.This chronicle, at the same time historical, epic, eulogistic, hagiographic, lyric, was wrotten by a known andrecognized author at the end of his life: this royal biography can be considered as his testament, a crowning ofhis works. The Take of Alexandria is the story of a crusade, a crusade not anymore on battlefields, but in royaland papal courts; not in acts anymore, but in words; a crusade which overshadows the trades exchanges too; thecrusade of a poet: Machaut composed here a real satire of his time.Through our study, we hope to discover or rediscover this underrated work; we will provide original text andtranslation, descriptions of the manuscripts, a biography of the author and a presentation of his work, a literaryreview and a linguistic study, critical notes, a glossary, an index, a list of proverbs, a count on historical events,and a comprehensive bibliography.

The discussion of citation and allusion has become an important area of research in Medieval Studies. The application of postmodern intertextual theories has brought scholars to a deeper understanding of the reuse of borrowed material, shedding new light on a culture of music and literature that was once dismissed as dully repetitive. This thesis builds on this work by examining in depth the manner in which citation and allusion was deployed in the fourteenth-century motet. Motets are a particularly fertile ground for discussion of the reuse of material, drawing as they do on a range of citational techniques such as borrowed liturgical tenors, modelling of rhyme schemes on existing works, and quotation of refrains and authorities. The polyphonic and polytextual nature of the motet enabled composers to juxtapose different registers, languages and genres, and thus to create an array of competing possible interpretations. This study is situated against several strands of recent scholarship. It draws on critical theory, as well as discussions of refrain definition, memory, manuscript compilation, and notions of voice, authority and authorship. Each chapter examines a particular body of work: the interpolated Roman de Fauvel, the works of Guillaume de Machaut, the motets of the Ivrea and Chantilly manuscripts, and finally those of Manuscript Torino J.II.9. In each case, looking at the use of citation and allusion connects to other concerns. In the Roman de Fauvel, citation in the motets can be seen as functioning alongside use of the vernacular, manuscript layout and illuminations to elucidate the narrative. In the works of Guillaume de Machaut citation is linked to his ambiguous self-presentation and authorial presence, and connects individual pieces in his complete works’ manuscripts. The Ivrea and Chantilly motets, while not linked by the same strength of context, demonstrate continuing use of thirteenth-century tradition. In this case, studying compilation choices may help us to understand how scribes interpreted citational material. Finally, I argue that understanding the internal use of symmetry in MS J.II.9 and its motets, and the reuse of material between the motets and the chansons of that repertory, vindicates the view that the music and poetry was composed by a single author well versed in mainstream tradition. I have been able to propose some previously unnoted allusions in the major works, and draw out the benefits of a holistic approach to understanding these motet and manuscripts. All this points to motets both continuing the writing traditions of the thirteenth century throughout the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, but also shows individual writers and compilers choosing to cite in a creative and innovative manner.

This thesis is devoted to Guillaume de Machaut and his writings that depict the poet's views on the ideal monarch, and his memories of John of Luxembourg. In the opening chapters of this thesis the author presents a brief biography of Guillaume de Machaut, his literary work and historical context that influenced the poet's thinking. The thesis also examines Machaut's idea of an ideal ruler, mainly contained in his essay Comfort for a Friend. The last part of this thesis is devoted to John of Luxembourg. The author deals with the reasons that led to the fact that John of Luxembourg became in the Machaut's work the embodiment of the ideal ruler. She also compares the Machaut's representation of the Czech King with predominantly negative perception in Czech chronicles of 14th century. Machaut's testimony of the Czech King helps to understand the John's popularity in Western Europe and the divergence between Czech a French concept of ideal ruler.