Final answer:
The chanson 'Ma fin est mon commencement' by Machaut is in rondeau form, represented by the structure A-B-a-a´-A-B, which mirrors the cyclical nature of the text with its repeating sections. Machaut's music complements the complex meaning of the text through the interwoven polyphonic lines, creating a harmonious whole and reflecting the emergence of thirds and polyphonic textures from the medieval to the Renaissance period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chanson Ma fin est mon commencement by Guillaume de Machaut is in rondeau form, which is diagrammed as A-B-a-a´-A-B. This form reflects the cyclical nature of the text with its repeating sections and the mirroring of the music's beginning at the end. Machaut's music expresses the complexity and layered meanings of the text through the use of polyphony, where different musical lines interweave with one another, but come together to create a harmonious whole.
The rondeau form, characterized by its specific structural pattern that repeats both music and text, aligns perfectly with the poetic and philosophical implications of the lyrics. The reflection of the end in the beginning in Machaut's composition mirrors that of the chanson's text, emphasizing themes of cyclicity and perpetual renewal. This era of music saw an increased emphasis on the use of thirds, creating a sense of harmony and polyphonic textures that was becoming more prevalent in the transition from medieval to Renaissance music.