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Quant je sui mis au retour
virelai by Guillaume de Machaut

Sources

New York: Wildenstein Collection, fol. 326v (1/1);
Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 843 (text); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1584 (MachA), fol. 485v (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1585 (MachB), fol. 324v (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1586 (MachC), fol. 153v (1/1); Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 22546 (MachG), fol. 157 (1/1).

Editions

1. Guillaume de Machaut: Musikalische Werke. Erster Band: Balladen, Rondeaux und Virelais, edited by Friedrich Ludwig, Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1926, p. 76.
2. 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. 173.
3. Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377), p. 7.
Text Editions
Guillaume de Machaut: poésies lyriques, 2 vols., edited by V. Chichmaref, Paris: 1909, p. 596.
Literature
1. REANEY, Gilbert. 'Voices and instruments in the music of Guillaume de Machaut', Revue belge de musicologie, X (1956), p. 9.
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 4.3.
3. REANEY, Gilbert. '"Ars Nova" in France', [chapter 1 of] The New Oxford History of Music. III. Ars Nova and the Renaissance, edited by Dom Anselm Hughes and Gerald Abraham, London: Oxford University Press, 1960, p. 26.
4. POP, Rodica. 'Elemente ale gindirii functionale prezente in creatia lui Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)', Lucrari de Muzicologie, II (1967), pp. 5-6.
5. REANEY, Gilbert. 'The Middle Ages', [in] A History of Song, edited by Denis Stevens, 2nd edition, New York: W. W. Norton, 1970, p. 33.
6. 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
1. Ah Sweet Lady: The Romance of Medieval France [Medieval Roots], New York Pro Musica, directed by John White (1967): Decca 9431/ DL 79431/ DL 79438.
2. Guillaume de Machault. Balladen - Motetten - Rondeaus - Virelais, Capella Lipsiensis, directed by Dietrich Knothe (1971): Philips 6580 026.
3. Guillaume de Machaut. Chansons I, Early Music Studio, directed by Thomas Binkley (1972): EMI-Reflexe 1C063-30-106 (GER)/ 1C-163-30-101/6 (GER).
4. The Art of Courtly Love. Vol. I. Guillaume Machaut and His Age [Contemporaries], Early Music Consort of London, directed by David Munrow (1973): HMV SLS 863(3) (GB).
5. Guillaume de Machaut: 1. The Musical Art of Machaut. 2. Le Remède de Fortune. 3. Veoir Dit., Ensemble Guillaume de Machaut of Paris (1975-1977): Adés 7078 (3 discs).
6. Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Early Music Consort of London, directed by David Munrow (1976): EMI SLS 988(2) (GB).
7. Musica in Bohemia in Tempore Caroli IV, Soloists, Symposium Musicum, Prague Madrigal Singers, directed by Miroslav Venhoda (1977): Supraphon 11112 2451/2.
Text
Quant je sui mis au retour
De veoir ma dame.
Il n'est peinne ne dolour
Que j'aie, par m'ame.
Dieus! c'est drois que je l'aim, sans blame.
De loial amour.

Sa biaute, sa grant doucour.
D'amoureuse flame
Par souvenir, nuit et jour
M'esprent et enflame.
Dieus! c'est drois que je l'aim, sans blame.
De loial amour.

Et quant sa haute valour
Mon fin cuer entame.
Servir la weil sans folour
Penser ne diffame.
Dieus! c'est drois que je l'aim, sans blame.
De loial amour.
Translation
When I have returned
From seeing my lady.
There is no pain or sorrow
I feel, by my soul.
God! It is right that I love her, without blame.
With loyal love.

Her beauty, her great sweetness.
With a flame of love
In my memory, night and day
Seize and inflame me.
God! it is right that I love her, without blame.
With loyal love.

And since her great worth
Fills my true heart.
I will serve her without thinking
Madness or dishonour.
God! It is right that I love her, without blame.
With loyal love.
Text revision and translation © Jennifer Garnham

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

Cantus

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