Guillaume de Machaut was born in about 1300 in the city of Reims, Northern France. From 1320 to 1346, he served as secretary and notary to John of Luxembourg, the King of Bohemia. His earliest dated work is the motet Bone pastor Guillerme/Bone pastor, created in 1324 to honor newly appointed Archbishop Guillaume of Reims. Machaut was highly influential both as a composer and poet, at least for a century after him. He established three secular polyphonic musical forms - the ballade, rondeau, and virelai - and personally oversaw the compilation and organization of his works. Messe de Nostre Dame is Machaut's best-known work (to non-specialists), but the majority of his output consists of the formes fixes and motets. He was famous and highly respected, and died in his hometown in 1377, where he had lived as a cleric since 1330.
