Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Trio Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone - Level 2 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1270547
Composed by Solage. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Chamber,Contest,Early Music,Festival,Historic,Medieval. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #862918. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1270547).
INSTRUMENTATION: ALTO SAX, BARITONE SAX, CONTRABASS SAX
Sources suggest that the song is a love ballad that praises the beauty and virtues of Calextone, a lady from the town of Arouse. The lyrics describe her as having great value and worth; her beauty and grace are compared to smoke and mist. The song composer, Solage, also refers to himself in the refrain with a double meaning, using the spelling soulage. The song is a representative example of French secular music from the late fourteenth century.Â
It is unknown whether Calextone was a real person or a fictional character created by the composer. Some sources suggest that the song may have been composed for a wedding, possibly that of Jeanne de Boulogne and that Solage may have been in the service of Gaston Fébus, compte de Foix, who had a financial interest in the marriage.
The composer of the song, Solage, was a prominent figure in the Ars subtilior movement, which was characterized by complex rhythms, intricate melodies, and highly stylized notation. The song is a representative example of this musical style, which flourished in France during the late medieval period.Â
The song's use of acrostics and double meanings in the lyrics, as well as its intricate musical structure, demonstrate the sophistication and complexity of the Ars subtilior style. Overall, Calextone qui fut dame d'Arouse is an essential example of medieval French music and its evolution.
