Guillaume de Machaut

‘Oxford Biographies’ writes: “recognized by most scholars as the most important French poet and composer of the 14th century”; and then continues to explain that the thorough preservation of his works might well affect current opinion!
Machaut was born about 1300 near Machault, Champagne, and by his early 20s was in service to John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia. He also maintained connections with ecclesiastical figures: Achbishop of Reims, Pope John XXII and Benedict XII (his working life spanned the period of the Avignon Popes). Machaut’s main church position was Canon of Reims and was buried in the Cathedral in 1377 having survived the Great Plague of 1340s.
His literary and musical contribution to 14th century life is considerable . . . He wrote the first extant complete polyphonic setting of the Ordinary by a single composer, and he was a leading developer of polyphonic secular songs: 19 lais, 41 polyphonic ballades, 22 polyphonic rondeaux, 32 virelais.