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Forms of Lai

alexandros — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:41:27 +0000

Lai is a type of both lyric poetry and songs that flourished first in 12th century France. It consists of one or many stanza, each with nine lines that have two rhymes. Later new forms of Lai emerged with two of them being more common – Virelai and Lai Noveau.
Virelai also comes from medieval France and it is used in both music and poetry. Being one of formes fixes along with the rondeau and the ballade it was the most popular from that was set to music in the thirteenth to the middle of the fifteenth centuries. It can have several stanzas with two rhymes, where the last rhyme is again the first rhyme in the next stanza.
Lai Nouveau on the other hand has an eight line stanza. First two lines are also used as two last lines in the next verse. The last verse has both lines but in the opposite order.

History of Lai

alexandros — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:41:14 +0000

Lai is a form of poetry that originates from 12th century France. It spread out to all over Europe. Usually a Lai tells a story of adventures or romance and can be sung with a popular melody. It was easy to understand whether the poem was written by a man or a woman as the tone of the rhymes. One of the first known authors was Marie de France, who wrote twelve Celtic poems in her collection of Lai in 1155 to 1170. Those were dedicated to King Henry II. In 13th and 14th century Germany and France Lai was a song rather than a poem. Lai were in their peak in the 14th century when Guillaume de Machaut wrote lais in both poetic and musical form. Nineteen of those have survived until today. Today this form is practiced by several young poets who are experimenting with different forms that poetry can take.

Introduction To Breton Lai

alexandros — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:40:35 +0000

Brenton Lai is also known as narrative lay or just a lay. The first Brenton Lais that have survived until today were written by a French composer Marie de France, who lived in England in the court of Henry II. These were written in the late 1100s and early 1200s. From these Lais we know that first Bretan Lais were sung by Breton minstrels. Unfortunately these have not survived. First written Breton Lais were written in old French dialects, but some English lais from 13th and 14th centuries have also been discovered. Breton lais have introduced fairies into Continental Europe.
Old French Lais include The Lays of Marie de France, and eleven Anonymous Lais buy disputed authors. Middle English Lais like „Sir Orfeo“, Sir Gowther“, „Sir Degare“ and „Emare“ by anonymous authors. Geoffrey Chaucer and Thomas Chestre are also known English artist who have written Breton Lais among their other work.

Main Virelai Artists

alexandros — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:40:18 +0000

The world knows three famous Virelai artists; the most famous is probably Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). He is also one of the first composers there is biographical information available of. He was an amazing composer but also a great poet. In the 15th century he was admired by many, including other poets. He wrote 39 Virelais, 33 of which has survived until today.
Another great Virelai poet was Jehan de Lescurel who lived in France in the end of 1200’s. He was probably hanged in 1304 together with three other clerics. Some of his Virelais, ballades and rondeaux have survived. His songs are simple and charming.
One of the last original Virelai artists was Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474). He was the most famous composer in the 15th century Europe. His songs followed forms fixes and included several Virelais. Many of his songs were about special occasions and are also datable, thus perfect for biographic.

About Lai Nouveau

alexandros — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:39:38 +0000

Lai Nouveau is a form of Lai together with Virelai. It is a more difficult form because it has an eight-line stanza where the two first lines are also the refrain which is also used in the end of all following verses. The last verse also includes these two lines, but in opposite order. It is not easy to find a pattern that could last two or more verses. This form looks a lot like villanelle.
Some young poets have started experimenting with Lai Nouveau in the last years together with other forgotten forms that they want to help bring alive.

Here are a few samples of Lai Nouveau:

Journey

Spring days are ahead;
young ones to be fed.
Perhaps,
I am to be led,
despite what is said.
Let lapse
hate, the journey’s wed
to our minds instead.
—- Mike Montreuil 26 March 2006

Consider dying.
Consider living.
Why not?
See interfering
as crime and peering
besought
seldom by one’s fling.
Remember to ring

to avoid stinging
who you’d be pleasing.
Care wrought,
restrict your dancing.
For fancy glancing
be caught.
For brilliant smiling,
consider dying.

Or with great laughing
learn to be clapping
the hot
healthily climbing
humans now priming
their lot.
When alone feeling,
consider living.

Teach about singing.
Hear the bells ringing.
You bought
into worrying.
Now try reversing,
my tot.
Consider living.
Consider dying.
—-Jan Haag

What is Virelai?

alexandros — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:18:09 +0000

The word Virelai comes from French and means the beauty of music, dance and poetry. It is a form of Lai Poetry that uses its short lines for forming rhymes. The last stanza links to the first one and the rhyme pattern goes like this: a.a.b.a.a.b.a.a.b…b.b.c.b.b.c.b.b.c.
Virelai originates from France where it was used in medieval times in both music and poetry. It was also the most common form that was put into music until the fifteenth century. The most famous virelai composers were Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay and Jehannot de l’Escurel. From 1450’s Virelai got separated from music and verses were written as poetry. Unfortunately Virelai music has not survived until today and now we use it only for poetry.
Virelai is not used anymore today, but other modern forms of Lai have still been practices by some poets and poetry enthusiasts.