History

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.