RCM Intermediate History – Puis Qu’en Oubli (Medieval)

Puis qu’en oubli

        Puis qu’en oubli was composed by Guillaume de Machaut during the mid-fourteenth century. This polyphonic chanson is sung by three voices and is a rondeau (a fixed text form). There are two musical sections that repeat: a,b,a,a,a,b,a,b. There is a two line refrain and the first line is sung three times while the second line is sung twice. The refrain talks about the sadness of unreturned love. Puis qu’en oubli is in duple meter and was freely composed, which shows the French Ars nova. The melody is in a low range and this means it is usually sung by three male voices. It may also be sung by a solo singer accompanied by two other instruments.