Between 1349 and 1363. Tant doucement is a polyphonic song by the fourteenth-century French composer Guillaume de Machaut. It is an example of the fixed form known as the rondeau, and is written for four voices: a tenor and contratenor against which has been set a triplem and cantus. This is one of only two four-part extant rondeaux by Machaut. As only the cantus has a text, it is safe to assume that the tenor would have been instrumentally performed. Schrade catalogues it as Rondeau No. 9.

Machaut was the most famous and represented composer of the fourteenth century. Writing in the style known as Ars Nova ('New Art', to distinguish it from Ars Antiqua, or 'Old Art'), he is largely responsible for the establishment of the fixed musical and literary forms known as the ballade, rondeau and virelai. These secular forms had developed from the love song genres of the trouvères in the previous century.

Tant doucement me sens emprisonnes

Qu'onques amans n'ot si douce prison

Ja mais ne quier estre desprisonnes

Tant doucement me sens emprisonnes

Car tous biens m'est enceste prisonnez

Que dame puet donner sans mesprison

Tant doucement me sens emprisonnes

Qu'onques amans n'ot si douce prison

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