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A troubadour was a composer and performer of songs during the Middle Ages in Europe.

The etymology of the word troubadour is controversial. In general, the argument breaks into two camps. Romanists argue that the root of the word can be found either in the Occitan verb trobar, 'to compose, invent, or devise', or in the Vulgar Latin tropare, 'to say with tropes'. By contrast, Arabists posit an Arabic origin in the word taraba, 'to sing'.

The word is used to designate poet-musicians who spoke Occitan (or langue d'oc); their style spread to the trouvères in the north of France, who spoke langues d'oïl. The tradition began to flourish during the 11th century. The earliest troubadour whose work survives is Guilhem de Peitieus (Guillaume d'Aquitaine or William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, 1071-1127). However, Peter Dronke, author of The Medieval Lyric, notes that "[his] songs represent not the beginnings of a tradition but summits of achievement in that tradition." [1] His name has been preserved because he was a Duke, but his work plays with already established structures; Eble le chanteur is often credited as a predecessor, though none of his work survives. The style flourished in the eleventh century and was often imitated in the thirteenth. Many troubadours traveled for great distances, aiding in the transmission of trade and news.

The texts of troubadour songs deal mainly with themes of chivalry and courtly love. Many songs addressed a married lover, perhaps due to the prevalence of arranged marriages at the time. The aubade formed a popular genre.

A complementary role was filled at the same period by performers known as joglares in Occitan, jongleurs in French (minstrels in English). Jongleurs are often addressed in troubadour lyrics. Their profession was that of popular entertainer; as such jongleurs sometimes performed troubadour compositions but more often other genres, notably chansons de geste (epic narratives).

The German Minnesingers are closely related to - and inspired by - troubadours, but have distinctive features of their own.

Troubadours whose works have survived to the present day include Bernart de Ventadorn, Arnaut Daniel and Jaufré Rudel.

Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 External links 4 Further reading

See also

• Medieval music

References

1. ^ Peter Dronke, The Medieval Lyric, Perennial Library, 1968. p. 111.

External links

• Literary Encyclopedia - Troubadour
• Troubadours and Occitania
• Troubadour Books Books on Troubadour History, Music, Poetry and Influences.

Further reading

• Ardis Butterfield (1997). "Monophonic song: questions of category", Companion to Medieval & Renaissance Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198165404.
• Gaunt and Kay (1999). "The Troubadours: An Introduction". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521574730.