Ru
EnM. Girfanova, V. Dulat-Aleev
French motets Ars nova “Ludowice prelustris francorum” and “Qui secuntur castra” in context of the political life in England (the first half of the 14st century)
This article examines the “musical component” of manuscript F-Pn 571 (1326) – two motets dating to the early period of the Ars nova in France. This volume is one of the important sources on the history of the motet genre. In particular, the manuscript under review allows us to characterize the genesis and functioning of the “political” motet, which emerged during this period.
It is noted that the manuscript was presented as a betrothal gift between Crown Prince Edward, son of the English King Edward II, and Philippa, daughter of Count William I of Hainaut. The volume belonged to the literary tradition of the “princely mirror” (“speculum regum”) – the works presented within focused on the principles of ideal governing. These motets were intended as musical inserts into the “Roman de Fauvel” (с. 1317), a satirical poem exposing the vices of French political and ecclesiastical life of that time. Thus, the “political motets” discussed recent events in national history. However, in volume F-Pn 571, the motets now allude to a similar situation in England. In the motet “Qui secuntur castra”, the initial criticism of Enguerrand de Marigny, advisor to the French King Philip IV, is directed against Hugh Despenser the Younger, a favorite of Edward II. The coronation motet “O Philippe prelustris Francorum” for Philip V is now addressed to the future King Edward III. At the same time, the manuscript F-Pn 571 can be assessed as an example of achievements of the French “new art” (including elements of isorhythmic motet technique).
Key words
manuscript F-Pn 571, motet “Ludowice prelustris francorum”, motet “Qui secuntur castra”, musical interpolations for the “Roman de Fauvel”, French Ars nova, “political” motet Ars nova.
For citation
Girfanova M., Dulat-Aleev V. French motets Ars nova “Ludowice prelustris francorum” and “Qui secuntur castra” in context of the political life in England (the first half of the 14st century). In: South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2025. No. 4. Pp. 27–37.
