Baude Cordier

Full biography Baude Cordier

Baude Cordier was a French composer who flourished in the fourteenth century. He is known for his innovation in musical notation and composition, and his unique approach to sound that inspired subsequent generations of composers.

Cordier was associated with the court of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, where he served as a musician and composer. He is most famous for his piece titled "Tres douce dame", which is considered a masterpiece of Ars subtilior, a musical style characterized by intricate rhythms and complex polyphony.

What makes "Tres Douce Dame" an exceptional work is the innovative notation Cordier used. He created a heart-shaped note that symbolizes love, which was a revolution in music notation during his era. This, coupled with the use of intricate rhythms and harmonies, made Cordier's work stand out and earned him a reputation as one of the greatest composers of his time.

Cordier's compositional output comprised of numerous secular chansons and motets. Although the exact number of his works is unknown, his compositions were transmitted across Europe, and his influence on the subsequent generation of composers is unmistakable.

Overall, Baude Cordier was a visionary composer at a time of great change in European music. His unique notation, rhythmic complexity and melodic beauty made him a trailblazer in his field, and he remains an influential figure in the history of European music.