Johannes Ciconia: Prolation Canon, ' Le ray au soleyl'

Johannes Ciconia (c. 1370 - 1412): Prolation Canon, " Le ray au soleyl"
Transcription by: Jordan Alexander Key

Performance by: Alarm Will Sound (album: "a/rhythmia")

A Prolation Canon for three voices by Johannes Ciconia (c. 1370 – 1412). this piece is a unique example of irregular prolation from the French Ars Subtilior. Utilizing a 4:3:1 proportion, this piece creates an interesting rhythmic phasing effect between the triplum and the cantus (top two voices) nearly 600 years before the 20th century composer Steve Reich popularized such musical textures.

For more information on Ciconia, the Lucca Codex, and/or this piece as well as a rhythmic structural analysis of "Le ray au soleyl" visit my site at

___________________________

Text:
Le ray au soleyl qui dret som karmeyne
En soy braçant la douce tortorelle,
Laquel compangnon onques renovelle,
A bon droit sembla qeu en toy perfect regne.

The ray of sunlight, in whose true enchantment
sleeps the sweet turtledove – in his embrace –
ever rejuvenating that beloved one
faithfully makes his appearance in your perfect kingdom.
(Trans. John Fleagle)

[HarlanBrothers]

What a brilliant realization of this piece!

[Iridiumalchemist]

Lizard Fact #8: Most lizards would not consider this early music as they have been listening to and producing music for around 310 million years. Very few species of the modern order squamata vocalize, however.

[kaybrown]

Shades of Steve Reich! Thank you for posting this amazing piece.

[ЛюбаАнікієнко]

Нарешті з нотами! Чудово ілюструють техніку незвичного канону і вигадливої поліритмії! "Промінь сонця", а таке дивне втілення...

[pierreboussion]

Hey Jordan! would you have books to recommand for leaning counterpoint as composer like this one learned it?

[sethhobi]

In the manuscript, would this have been printed on one line with 3 different mensuration markings in the beginning? Thanks again for the wonderful editions!

[netizencapet]

While this is wicked cool sounding, I think some of the theories about how to read modal notation (the use of rhythmic modes) must be flawed...they just wouldn't have had that kind of jutting, dysynchronous texture...