#rondeaux

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Guillaume de Machaut, Ma fan est mon commencement et mon commencement est ma fin. 

This clever rondeau involves a theme which is then sung backwards in isorhythm. Evidently, the art of writing musical palindromes preceded Bach by centuries! 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Lais et Virelais de Guillaume de Machaut. 

[verisimile]

ca. 1480, part of a collection for princess beatrice of aragon, this chanson by dufay seems a bit nostalgic, both in its verses longing for a lover’s look and in the distanced expressivity - it hearkens back to the old formes fixes of machaut’s time and contrasts strongly with the hyper-mimetic madrigals that are to come within the century

[michaelrababy]

rondeaux cd artwork

photo - michael rababy

[nuit-obscure]

A ce jour de saint Valentin Que chascun doit choisir son per, Amours, demourray je non per, Sans partir a vostre butin ?

A mon resveiller, au matin, Je n'y ay cessé de penser, A ce jour de saint Valentin

Mais Nonchaloir, mon medicin, M'est venu le pouse taster, Qui m'a conseillié reposer Et rendormir sur mon coussin, A ce jour de saint Valentin.

- Charles d'Orléans, Rondeaux.

[michaelrababy]

rondeaux cd cover

photo - michael rababy

[thefateofseeds-blog-blog]

Edge

You’re on the edge it seems my dear

You’ve let in all the doubts you fear

And though you keep on pushing through

Those doubts, they make their bed with you

At night when you might shed a tear

You thought they wouldn’t follow here

Yet so you stand, with failure near

As if your fears may still ring true

You’re on the edge

You must confess you’re feeling queer

And you’ve forgotten how to steer

You pray that you might find a clue

That tells you what you need to do

So you might find the path is clear

You’re on the edge

[thefateofseeds-blog-blog]

Play it Harder

Play it harder, you sink or swim,

From each moment and to each whim.

Take your position, make it pay,

Just climb on out and seize the day.

You’ll see it isn’t all so grim.

  Now hold your own, become so prim,

Retrain your mind, control each limb

And calculate the things you say.

Play it harder.

  Leave the others appearing dim,

Compete with her and conquer him.

Ignore your critics, don’t obey

Your heart’s the heart that won’t betray.

To fill your life up to the brim,

Play it harder.