Who Is Léonin Perotin

There is no specific date or documentation that shows exactly when polyphony started being used in the Church, but two French composers, Leonin and his student Perotin, of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, are generally credited with composing the first significant polyphonic church music.

Why was Perotin important in the development of Western music?

Perotin was also among the earliest composers who wrote polyphony for three and four voices. Today, four voices is the standard for many choir compositions. By writing many high quality polyphonic compositions Leonin and Perotin subsequently encouraged polyphonic composition.

In what style is the music of Guillaume de Machaut?

Machaut composed in a wide range of styles and forms. He is a part of the musical movement known as the ars nova. Machaut helped develop the motet and secular song forms (particularly the lai and the formes fixes: rondeau, virelai and ballade).