He was a highly influential figure in the Ars Nova period, known for his innovative compositions, including:
* Messe de Nostre Dame: One of the first complete polyphonic settings of the Ordinary of the Mass.
* La Messe de Notre Dame: A groundbreaking work, considered the first complete polyphonic mass.
* Secular works: Machaut composed a wide range of secular music, including chansons, ballades, and rondeaux.
* The first known polyphonic setting of the Ordinary of the Mass: This was a significant development in the history of music.
Machaut's music was characterized by its rhythmic complexity, sophisticated harmony, and use of new melodic and rhythmic patterns. He was also a renowned poet and scholar, and his work had a profound impact on the development of European music.