Fascinating Works by Guillaume de Machaut | STAGE+
Machaut: The Dart of Love (Complete Machaut Edition 2) by the Orlando Consort
Discover the magic of Machaut: The Dart of Love with the Orlando Consort. This enchanting collection of works is part of the complete Machaut Edition 2, brought to life by the mesmerizing sounds of the renowned ensemble. Prepare to be captivated by the compelling compositions as your love for Guillaume de Machaut's work blossoms with each track. Explore his artistry and experience a musical journey like never before, only on STAGE+.
About the Recording
The Dart of Love offers a thoughtfully curated program, traversing a wide range of moods and vocal scorings—from intricate four-voice motets and ballades to nuanced single-voice virelais. The Orlando Consort delivers these medieval masterpieces with clarity and style, providing contemporary listeners with insight into the complex emotional landscapes of 14th-century French music.
The Influence of Machaut
While Machaut is the central focus of this edition, the interconnectedness of composers active at the French royal court and in literary circles of the era is reflected. Machaut contributed significantly to the development of the Ars Nova style, characterized by rhythmic complexity and expressive text setting.
Highlights and Themes
Love and Bitterness: The motet "Amara valde" ("Very bitter") explores the paradox of love's sweetness turning to bitterness, a favorite theme in medieval poetry and song. The wordplay in the text underscores the emotional duality that pervades much of this repertoire.
Fortune and Morality: Another highlight is Machaut’s "Il m’est avis qu’il n’est dons de nature" (Ballade 22), which stands out for its philosophical reflection on Fortune’s fickleness, paraphrasing the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius—a text known to have influenced both Machaut and his contemporaries.
Musical Variety: The album’s selection, ranging from solo to ensemble works, demonstrates the wide variety of musical forms and styles prevalent in the 14th century.