During the Great Schism (1378-1417), a second pope emerged in Avignon. The papal court there, oddly enough, was a great patron of secular music, and composers were able to be very creative. This led to a sub-genre of the Ars Nova, called the Ars Subtilior.
In Ars Subtilior music, composers wrote in a rhythmically complex style and often tried new ways of notation. The example shown, Belle, Bonne, Sage, written by Baude Cordier, is a prime example of the style. The piece is in the shape of a heart, and although it would be highly challenging to read, one must give credit to the composer for his cleverness. ("Cœur" is the French word for "heart," so Cordier made a double pun on his name and the heart shape, writing about love).
Other examples of interesting notation include a canon in the shape of a circle, a piece in the shape of a harp, and one in the shape of an inward spiral, to name a few.
Belle, Bonne, Sage[]
This piece was a rondeau, which basically means that it has a refrain. This refrain repeats, word and note, the first stanza.
The lyrics, translated, read:
Lovely, good, wise, gentle and noble one,
On this day that the year becomes new
I make you a gift of a new song
Within my HEART***, which presents itself to you.
Do not be reluctant to accept this gift,
I beg you, my sweet damsel;
(Lovely, good, wise...) <------Refrain
For I love you so well that I have no other purpose,
And know well that you alone are she
Who is famous for being called by all:
Flower of beauty, excellent above all others.
(Lovely, good, wise...) <------Refrain
- In addition to writing in its shape, Cordier also substituted the word "heart" with a small drawing of a heart in the lyrics.
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Here I show the standard notation versus the way Cordier chose to write it.
In standard notation, the piece would look more like this.
Baude cordier BELLE, BONE, SAGE