The mashup is a concept that comes to us from the distant Middle Ages...
To understand this, we need to answer the following question:
- What is a mashup?
- To conceive a mashup, it is to reappropriate a work, a history, a fact to divert it from its original context in a purely artistic goal.
Centons in the Middle Ages
Centons are the first written expressions that meet this definition. They are poems that take ancient texts and rearrange them to become a new work in their own right.
In the Middle Ages, centons were frequently used by troubadours who recovered verses of their own composition or written by others and added melodies known to their listeners.
The monks also used this method for their Gregorian chants: the words were taken from various biblical writings while the tunes were inspired by melodies often borrowed from the troubadours.
the quodlibets of the Renaissance
The polyphonic songs of the medieval period took on a new look during the French Renaissance. The melodies are mixed, simultaneously or successively, to form a surprising music. These are the quodlibets.
Humorous texts, sometimes even erotic ones, are added to them to form very appreciated vocal pieces: the fricassées.
In 1740, Bach composed the Goldberg Variations: 29 variations on the same theme, but the 30th one holds a surprise. Keeping the bass of the initial theme, he adds two popular tunes. The ensemble forms a magnificent quodlibet. The first musical mashup is born!
Over time, the two original songs were completely forgotten. Bach was able to show his genius by imposing his version and to make today's audience believe that it is a personal work.