Editing Chanson (section)

=== ''Formes fixes'' ===
{{see also|Motet-chanson}}
In its typical specialized usage, the word ''chanson'' refers to a polyphonic French song of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.{{sfn|Wilkins|2001|loc=Introduction}} Early ''chansons'' tended to be in one of the ''[[formes fixes]]''—[[ballade (forme fixe)|ballade]], [[Rondeau (forme fixe)|rondeau]] or [[virelai]] (formerly the ''chanson baladée'')—though some composers later set popular poetry in a variety of forms. The earliest chansons were for two, three or four voices, with first three becoming the norm, expanding to four voices by the 16th century. Sometimes, the singers were accompanied by [[musical instrument|instruments]].

The first important composer of ''chansons'' was [[Guillaume de Machaut]], who composed three-voice works in the ''formes fixes'' during the 14th century.{{sfn|Wilkins|2001|loc=1. Origins to about 1430}}