ars nova
A musical style of the late medieval period (c. 1310–1377), notable for its rhythmic innovation and increased complexity.
In Depth
Ars nova, meaning "new art," takes its name from a treatise attributed to Philippe de Vitry around 1322. This period introduced revolutionary concepts in rhythm and notation, including the acceptance of duple meter alongside the previously dominant triple meter, and the use of smaller note values that allowed for greater rhythmic complexity.
Guillaume de Machaut, the most celebrated composer of the Ars Nova, created works of extraordinary sophistication, including the first complete polyphonic setting of the Mass Ordinary. The period's innovations in notation laid the groundwork for all subsequent Western musical notation, making it one of the most consequential eras in music history.
Guillaume de Machaut's Messe de Nostre Dame (c. 1365) is the earliest known complete polyphonic Mass setting by a single composer.