# Formes fixes

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The ***formes fixes*** (fɔʁm fiks; singular: ***forme fixe***, "fixed form") are the three 14th- and 15th-century [French](/source/French_language) [poetic](/source/Poetry) forms: the *[ballade](/source/Ballade_(forme_fixe))*, *[rondeau](/source/Rondeau_(poetry))*, and *[virelai](/source/Virelai)*. Each was also a musical form, generally a *[chanson](/source/Chanson)*, and all consisted of a complex pattern of repetition of [verses](/source/Verse_(poetry)) and a [refrain](/source/Refrain) with musical content in two main sections.

All three forms can be found in 13th-century sources, but a 15th-century source gives [Philippe de Vitry](/source/Philippe_de_Vitry) as their first composer while the first comprehensive repertory of these forms was written by [Guillaume de Machaut](/source/Guillaume_de_Machaut).[1] The *formes fixes* stopped being used in music around the end of the 15th century, although their influence continued (in poetry they, especially the rondeau, continued to be used[1]).

Sometimes forms from other countries and periods are referred to as *formes fixes*. These include the Italian 14th-century [madrigal](/source/Madrigal_(Trecento)) and later [ballata](/source/Ballata) and [barzelletta](/source/Barzelletta), the German [bar form](/source/Bar_form), Spanish 13th-century [cantiga](/source/Cantiga), and the later [canción](/source/Canci%C3%B3n), and [villancico](/source/Villancico).[1]

## Notes

1. Fallows

## References

- [David Fallows](/source/David_Fallows). "Formes Fixes", *[Grove Music Online](/source/Grove_Dictionary_of_Music_and_Musicians)*, ed. L. Macy (accessed September 16, 2006), [grovemusic.com](http://www.grovemusic.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516041031/http://www.grovemusic.com/) 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine (subscription access).

## Further reading

- Wilkins, Nigel (1968). ["The Post-Machaut Generation of Poet-Musicians"](https://www.brepolsonline.net/doi/epdf/10.1484/J.NMS.3.38). *Nottingham Medieval Studies*. **12**: 40–84. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols. [doi:10.1484/J.NMS.3.38](https://doi.org/10.1484/J.NMS.3.38)

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