Gautier de Coinci (EN)

Gautier de Coinci, Coincy, *1177 or 1178, Coincy (near Soissons), †25 September 1236 Soissons (?), French poet and trouvère. In 1193 he entered the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Médard in Soissons; he later studied in Paris, probably at the Sorbonne. His observations on student life are reflected in the work Miracle de Hildefonsus. In 1214 he became prior of the abbey of Vic-sur-Aisne; on 19 June 1233 he returned to Saint-Médard as its grand abbot. Gautier de Coinci was primarily a composer of religious, especially Marian poetry. Highly regarded as a lyric poet, he displayed exceptional mastery of the French poetic language. None of his original musical compositions are known. However, it is assumed that he composed music for some of his poems himself (for example, the strophic lai Roine celeste). Among the approximately 40 surviving songs, many are contrafacta. Gautier de Coinci drew melodies from well-known sequences (e.g., Laetabundus), motets, and conductus (including Beata viscera by Pérotin), as well as from carole refrains, love songs by Blondel de Nesle, and less well-known trouvères (Vielart de Corbie, Jocelin de Bruges, Pierre de Molins). Many songs survive with several different melodies. All these works were included in his extensive poetic collection Miracles de Notre Dame (written between 1214 and 1223), comprising about 30,000 lines. This work is an adaptation of legends about the Virgin Mary in French, with musical insertions in the form of songs. The poem survives in 84 manuscripts (including 22 with music), and its Marian songs served as a model for the famous Cantigas de Sancta Maria (1258–1272) by Alfonso X the Wise, King of Castile, influencing many later poets writing on Marian themes. In the 14th century, Miracles de Notre Dame was adapted for stage performance, although the melodies were by then forgotten.

Literature: P. Meyer Types de quelques chansons de Gautier de Coinci, “Romania” XVII, 1888; P. Verrier La „Chanson de Notre Dame” de Gautier de Coinci, “Romania” LIX, 1933; F. Gennrich Zwei altfranzösische Lais, «Studi medievali» XV, 1942; F. Gennrich Perotins „Beata viscera Marie virginis” und die Modaltheorie, “Die Musikforschung” I, 1948; F. Gennrich Troubadours, Trouvères, Minne- und Meistergesang, «Das Musikwerk» II, 1951; F. Gennrich Zur Ausgabe der Lieder des Gautier de Coinci (von J. Chailley), “Romanische Forschungen” LXXIII, 1961.