Virelai
A virelai is a form of medieval French verse used often in poetry and music. It is one of the three formes fixes (the others were the ballade and the rondeau) and was one of the most common verse forms set to music in Europe from the late thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries.
One of the most famous composers of virelai is Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300–1377), who also wrote his own verse; 33 separate compositions in the form survive by him. Other composers of virelai include Jehannot de l'Escurel, one of the earliest (d. 1304), and Guillaume Dufay (c. 1400–1474), one of the latest.
By the mid-15th century, the form had become largely divorced from music, and numerous examples of this form (including the ballade and the rondeau) were written, which were either not intended to be set to music, or for which the music has not survived.
A virelai with only a single stanza is also known as a bergerette.
Musical virelai
The virelai as a song form of the 14th and early 15th century usually has three stanzas, and a refrain that is stated before the first stanza and again after each. Within each stanza, the structure is that of the bar form, with two sections that share the same rhymes and music ("stollen"), followed by a third ("abgesang"). The third section of each stanza shares its rhymes and music with the refrain.
Podcasts:
Virelai
ALBUMS
- Fra bølger og bjerge released: 2011
- Havmandens kys released: 2006
- Danser duggen af jorden released: 2002
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by Freely
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Under Steeples (isaiah 1, Amos 5)
by: FreelyVerse 1:
The songs you sing My heart has grown to hate them
The meetings of the saints are all in vain
Under steeples marked with crosses I see darkness
For sin abounds under false pretenses
Chorus:
Wake up from your sleeping My redeemed
Remove the evil deeds from My eyes
See the orphan see the widow's needs
Learn to get on your knees and serve each other
Verse 2:
If you lift up your hands I will not see them
Even though your many prayers I will not hear
For My pleasure is not in the sacrifices
But in the righteousness of the heart that makes it
Chorus:
Wake up from your sleeping My redeemed
Remove the evil deeds from My eyes
See the orphan see the widow's needs
Learn to get on your knees and serve each other
Bridge:
Your sins are like scarlet but they will be white as snow
You wear evil like a garment but I'm giving you a brand new coat
And if you are willing to live by all My commands
You will know Jesus and you'll drink from the Father's hands
Chorus:
Wake up from your sleeping My redeemed
Remove the evil deeds from My eyes
See the orphan see the widow's needs