This delightful song offers a great puzzle! Machaut’s original manuscript includes only two melodies—one of which is half as long as the other—and a few enigmatic lyrics.  When you apply the latter to the former, you discover that one melody is sung forwards and backwards at the same time, while the other is sung first forwards and then backwards.  Impressively, Machaut created this puzzle in the 14th century without the help of computer playback or editing.  Note that pronunciation should follow late Medieval conventions, as shared in the recording below.

This title is listed as a site-license. Purchase it once and you can make as many copies as needed for ensembles at your institution. This license is non-transferable, so you can’t share your copies with other ensembles, but pricing is always negotiable if you contact me. I just want to share in making great music together!

BTW, the featured image is the ceiling of the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It is one of the most beautiful concert halls I’ve ever visited. Find out more here.

Please enjoy the premiere performance by the Jacksonville University Singers, recorded live on Halloween 2023! Our end and beginning start at 1:09:30 in the video below!