The International Machaut Society is a not-for-profit scholarly organization founded in 1985 and devoted to the study, criticism, performance, research, and exchange of ideas related to all aspects of the works of the poet and composer Guillaume de Machaut (ca. 1300-1377) and their manuscript and performance traditions.
Fields of inquiry fostered by the Society include, but are not limited to, literary history and criticism; music history, criticism, and theory; the performing arts; art history; and codicology. Study and performance of works of other poets and composers or of other performance and manuscript traditions are also included within activities sponsored by the Society insofar as they contribute significantly to study of the background, context, or influence of the works of Machaut.
The Society encourages membership with the broadest possible international representation and currently boasts members from almost every continent. Any person may become a member of the International Machaut Society upon payment of dues. Right now we are unfortunately only able to accept U. S. funds, but we are looking into ways to receive other currencies.
The Society meets annually at the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI. At this convention the Society ordinarily sponsors several sessions of scholarly papers and discussion, plus a business meeting and luncheon. Occasionally, the Society also sponsors sessions at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds.
Ymaginer, published annually, is the Newsletter of the International Machaut Society. Submit conference news, abstracts, reviews, comments, letters to the editor, and notices of Machaut papers, publications and performances to the Executive Secretary.
Current and past issues of the newsletter are available on our Newsletter page at no charge.
Established May 1998
The International Machaut Society has created the Sarah Jane Williams Award to honor the Society’s founder and first president. This award, carrying a prize of up to $1000, promotes the study, criticism, performance, research, and exchange of ideas related to all aspects of the works of Guillaume de Machaut. Fields of inquiry include (but are not limited to) literary history and criticism, musicology, the performing arts, art history, and codicology. Projects centered on the study and performance of the works of other poets and composers or on other performance or manuscript traditions will also be considered, insofar as they contribute significantly to the study of the background, context, or influence of the works of Machaut. Graduate students in particular are encouraged to apply. Past winners include Jennifer Bain, Lawrence Earp, Elizabeth Eva Leach, Jennifer Saltzstein, Yolanda Plumley, Elizabeth Voss, and Domenic Leo.
Applications, including a one-page description of the proposed project, a curriculum vitae, a detailed budget of how the funds (up to $1000) will be used, and, for graduate students, the name and contact information of one recommender, should be sent no later than March 1, 2025 to Jared Hartt: Jared.Hartt@oberlin.edu. All applicants must be current members of the Society.
The winner will be announced at the annual Business Meeting of the Society, held at the International Congress of Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo in May, and in the Society’s Newsletter, Ymaginer.
Dues are currently $10.00 (U.S.) per year (or $5 for the unemployed); at this point we are unfortunately only able to accept U. S. funds. Checks for dues should be made payable to The International Machaut Society. You may pay at the annual Business Meeting at the International Medieval Congress, Kalamazoo, Michigan, in May, or send your check to the Executive Secretary. Please include your name, your mailing address, e-mail address, an indication of whether or not you want to be included in the public list of members, and your institutional affiliation if appropriate.
Earlier versions of the Society website have been saved for posterity by the Internet Archive and are accessible here. Many thanks to Cynthia Cyrus and Alice Clark for developing and maintaining the Society pages in their earlier iterations.