The three movements of Three French Twists are based upon popular songs from Medieval France.  The poetic and musical form known as the virelai was cultivated extensively in the latter part of the 14th century.  The root of the word “virelai” is Old French virer (“to turn” or “to twist”), reflecting dance origins, but also punning on the French “lai” (a type of song).  Composers of this period delighted in sophistication and intellectual games.  While incorporating these songs into a modern composition, the melodic line has been altered only slightly, to preserve the mannerism and self-conscious artifice of the original, while the newly-composed guitar accompaniment functions as commentary on the emotional and narrative twists of the poetry.

I. Vaillant is based upon a virelai entitled “Par Maintes Fois,” by Jehan Vaillant (fl. 1360-1390).  It imagines a dramatic confrontation between birds in a garden.  The nightingale becomes indignant when his beautiful song is interrupted by the unsophisticated noise of the cuckoo.  The nightingale calls on the other birds to kill the intruder, with a play on words, since the representation of the nightingale’s song “oci, oci, oci” puns on the Latin word for “kill, kill, kill.”
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II. Ciconia is based upon a virelai known as “Aler m’en veus,” by Johannes Ciconia (d. 1412).  It tells the story of an unrequited lover, who longs to exile himself from his homeland, since his beloved does not return his feelings.  The music reflects the kaleidoscope of emotions portrayed in the singer’s words—anger, despair, resentment, passion, longing, hope, and resignation.
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III. Grimace is based upon a virelai called “Alarme, Alarme,” by a composer known to posterity only by his last name, Grimace (fl. 1350-1375).  The peculiar text presents the words of a dying knight who urges his beloved lady to take up arms on his behalf (!), while the vocal line features fanfare-like leaps in the melody.
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After the release of their first album, the voice & guitar duo of Kevin & Catherine Cooper approached me and asked me to write a short song cycle for them.  Since Catherine was finishing her doctorate in musicology and had extensive experience performing early music, I was inspired to reach back to the medieval songs and create a modern interpretation of them.  At the same time, Kevin's skill as a performer encouraged me to write a virtuosic guitar part, to capture the spirit of the original songs.  Their debut CD can be purchased directly from the publisher, Doberman-Yppan.