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Medieval Music Database

Helas! pour quoy se demente et complaint
rondeau by Guillaume de Machaut

Sources

New York: Wildenstein Collection, fol. 316v (2/1);
Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 843 (text); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1584 (MachA), fol. 476 (2/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1585 (MachB), fol. 315v (2/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1586 (MachC), fol. 201v (2/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 9221 (MachE), fol. 139 (2/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 22546 (MachG), fol. 150 (2/1);
Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Library, French MS 15, number 148 (text).

Facsimiles

WOLF, Johannes. Geschichte der Mensural-Notation von 1250-1460 nach den theoretischen und praktischen Quellen, 3 vols., Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904. [reprinted Hildesheim: G. Olms, 1965], p. 37 (Pn22546, diplomatic).

Editions

1. WOLF, Johannes. Geschichte der Mensural-Notation von 1250-1460 nach den theoretischen und praktischen Quellen, 3 vols., Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1904. [reprinted Hildesheim: G. Olms, 1965], Vol. III, p. 60 (Pn22546).
2. Guillaume de Machaut: Musikalische Werke. Erster Band: Balladen, Rondeaux und Virelais, edited by Friedrich Ludwig, Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926, p. 52.
3. The Works of Guillaume de Machaut, Second Part, edited by Leo Schrade, Monaco: Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1956. Polyphonic Music of the Fourteenth Century III, p. 142.
4. Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377), p. 3.
Text Editions
Guillaume de Machaut: poésies lyriques, 2 vols., edited by V. Chichmaref, Paris: 1909, p. 569.
Literature
1. MACHABEY, Armand. Guillaume de Machault, 130?-1377: La vie et l'oeuvre musicale, 2 vols, Paris: Richard-Masse-Editeur, 1955. Bibliothèque d'études musicales, p. 154.
2. GÜNTHER, Ursula. Der musikalische Stilwandel der französischen Liedkunst in der zweiten Hälfte des 14. Jahrhunderts, dargestelt an Virelais, Balladen und Rondeax von Machaut., Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hamburg: 1957, Chapter 4.2.
3. POIRION, Daniel. Le Moyen-Age. II: 1300-1480, Paris: Arthaud, 1971, p. 61.
4. BOORMAN, Stanley. 'A new edition of Machaut', Early Music, V/4 (1977), p. 497.
5. GÜNTHER, Ursula. 'Contribution de la musicologie à la biographie et à la chronologie de Guillaume de Machaut', Guillaume de Machaut, poète et compositeur. Colloque - Table Ronde, 1978, pp. 95-116.
Recordings
[Machaut: Helas! pour quoy], Monique Rollin Ensemble: M. Siderer (S), P. Paubon (flute), (1955): London International W 91116.
Text
Helas! pour quoy se demente et complaint
Mon cuer dolent de sa dure dolour?
Quant ma dame ne puet oir son plaint.

Helas! pour quoy se demente et complaint?
Ne riens aidier ne li puet, si se plaint.
Puis qu'Amours n'a de li nulle tendrour.

Helas! pour quoy se demente et complaint
Mon cuer dolent de sa dure dolour?

Translation
Alas! why does my heart lament and complain.
Suffering in its bitter sorrow?
Since my lady cannot hear its complaint.

Alas! why does my heart lament and complain?
Nor can anything aid it, when it complains
Since Love takes no compassion on it.

Alas! why does my heart lament and complain.
Suffering in its bitter sorrow?
Text revision and translation © Jennifer Garnham

Content Approved by: MMDB Director
Last updated: Wednesday, 19 March 2003

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