Machaut died in April 1377 and was buried in the cathedral next to his brother, Jean. Probably a younger brother, Jean de Machaut followed in Guillaume’s footsteps, first as secretary to King John and later as canon at Reims cathedral in 1355. Jean died first, probably in 1372.

Lavishly illuminated manuscripts

Machaut spent his last years supervising the production of his complete works. He did this by keeping an exemplar of each tale, poem, and song, arranging them in careful order by categories. New works were added to each category much as one would fill a looseleaf binder. Given the vagaries of manuscript copying, neither the accuracy of the copies nor their precise arrangement was guaranteed. Few composers have been as zealous as Machaut in collecting their life’s work. Several of these manuscripts are lavishly illuminated and contain most of his writings and music. If these did not exist, we would know of only four pieces of music attributed to him elsewhere.

Two of these manuscripts were compiled before the later narratives and compositions had been written and before the final order of the works had been decided. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, fonds français 1586 (identified as C by scholars), was completed around 1356. It was probably begun as a gift for Bonne of Luxembourg before her death in 1349, and perhaps it was completed for Jean II after the death of his wife. It contains most of the lais, virelais, and motets, more than half of the ballades, but less than half of the rondeaux.

A manuscript bought by Georges Wildenstein of New York almost 70 years ago and still owned by his heirs (identified as Vg, for the Marquis de Vogué, its previous owner until his death in 1916) was compiled about 1365–1370 and is considerably more complete. It contains the Messe de Nostre Dame, the Hoquetus David, and all but 14 songs. This manuscript seems to have been sent to the celebrated Gaston Fébus, count of Foix, and then to Yolande of Bar, queen of Aragon. Paris, B.N. f.fr. 1585 (identified as B), was copied from it later on paper rather than parchment, and it lacks the beautiful illuminations.