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Monoit d'Arras was a monk who served in the Abby of
Arras in northern France. He was a composer of
monophonic songs, both secular and sacred. Many of
his poems were addressed to members of the nobility.
Most of his secular pieces reflect the tradition of
courtly love, telling stories of discreet and
not-so-discreet liaisons. His most famous piece,
Ce fut en mai relates the story of an unrequited
lover who spies on a lady and her knight in an
amorous encounter. When he is discovered he tells
his tale of woe, and the lovers give him comfort and
a prayer for his happiness.
Our popular image of the troubadour or trouvère is
that of the itinerant musician wandering from town
to town, lute on his back. Such people existed, but
they were called jongleurs and minstrels—poor
musicians, male and female, on the fringes of
society. The troubadours and trouvères, on the other
hand, represent aristocratic music making. They were
either poets and composers who were supported by the
aristocracy or, just as often, they were the
aristocrats themselves, for whom the creation and
performance of music was part of the courtly
tradition. Among their number we can count kings,
queens, and countesses. The texts of these songs are
a natural reflection of the society that created
them. They often revolve around idealized treatments
of courtly love and religious devotion, although
many can be found that take a more frankly earthy
look at love.
The performance of this style of music is a matter
of conjecture. Some scholars suggest that it should
be performed in a free rhythmic style and with
limited use of accompanying instruments (especially
those songs with more elevated text). Other
scholars, as well as many performers, believe that
instrumental accompaniment and a more rhythmic
interpretation is equally valid. From a listener's
point of view, either can be convincing and
enjoyable.
Works
Monophonic chansons numbering about 15.
Two religious songs based on earlier chansons.