Tradicin trovadoresca: de trovadores, trobairitz y trouvres

The troubadours, [trobairitz], and trouvres were medieval poet-musicians who created one of the first
repertories of vernacular song to be written down. Their legacy is vast, existing today in many dozens of
late medieval manuscripts that contain thousands of poems and hundreds of melodies largely attributed to
individual troubadours and trouvres. The study of this repertory is often divided along geographic and
linguistic lines.

The troubadours, considered the earliest vernacular song composers, resided in the south of what is
largely now France, spoke the regional vernacular now known as Occitan, and chiefly wrote their texts
in the Old Provenal dialect.

The trouvres lived in the north of France, writing poetry in Old French. Although the repertories of the
troubadours and trouvres appear to have much in common, i.e., themes of love and betrayal, similar
poetic genres and even melodies, the songs reflect the considerable differences in politics, religion, and
social history between the two contiguous regions.

The historical era of the troubadours and trouvres is fairly well defined. Guilhem (b. 1071d. 1126),
seventh count of Poitou and ninth duke of Aquitaine, emerged as the first troubadour. By mid-12th
century, troubadour ideals had spread north, spawning the trouvre movement. The troubadour art had
reached its high point by the end of the 12th century and suffered a near-fatal blow with the destruction of
many Occitan courts, sources of troubadour patronage, during the Albigensian Crusade (c. 12091229).
At that time many troubadours left to find havens at courts in Italy, Spain, and as far east as Hungary.
Meanwhile the trouvres experienced great social change as feudalism waned in the 13th century and
gradually more trouvres began leaving the aristocratic courts and estates to work in burgeoning urban
centers such as Arras.

By the 14th century, as the viable tradition of both the troubadours and the trouvres withered, societies
and academies were established to preserve and promote the art. The tradition of published scholarship on
the troubadours and trouvres dates back to the 14th century, at least to Dantes De Eloquentia. Into the
19th century it was largely focused on finding and cataloguing the manuscript sources. Barring
unexpected discoveries, the repertory is well established now and scholarship has turned toward
evaluating the repertory within its known parameters. Today cogent research on the troubadours and
trouvres requires an interdisciplinary approach. Among the philologists, musicologists, paleographers,
and historians who are devoted to this repertory, a high degree of specialization and cross-disciplinary
cooperation is required.

Fuente: Oxford Bibliographies.

http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396584/obo-9780195396584-
0148.xml
Algunos de los gneros que surgen dentro de la tradicin trovadoresca y sus caractersticas:

Can: es la composicin ms utilizada, de tema amoroso, en l que el trovador expresa su

amor hacia la dama; desarrollada en varias estrofas o "coblas".
cobla: estrofa independiente
Sirvents: toman prestadas melodas de otros poemas poema de estructura similar a la cans,
generalmente satrico, sobre tema moral, poltico o de crtica literaria.
Tens: toman melodas prestadas de otros poemas, se presenta como un debate
vers: forma parte de un sistema mas antiguo de composicin de canciones
alba: poemas asociados con el canto en la madrugada, al salir el sol
planh: un lamento
cancin de cruzada
pastorela: cancin sobre una pastorcita, exige uso de una nueva meloda
dansa: cancin para bailar
descort: cancin de la Discordia
enueg: cancin para incomodar

Para consultar:
Medieval Lyric: Genres in Historical Context. Ed. William D. Paden. U Illinois P, 2000.
Jaufr Rudel
(?-1147, trovador, provenal)
Amor de Lonh
Lanquand li jorn son lonc en mai
M'es bls dutz chants d'ausls de lonh,
E quand me soi partitz de lai,
Remmbram d'un amor de lonh.
Vau de talan embroncs e clis
Si que chants ni flors d'albespis
Nom platz plus que l'ivrns gelatz.
Jamais d'amor nom jausirai
Si nom jau d'est' amor de lonh,
que melhor ni gensor non sai
vas nulha part, ni prs ni lonh.
Tant es sos prtz verais e fis
Que lai el reng dels Sarrasis
fos iu per liis chaitius clamatz.
Iratz e jausents m'en partrai,
quand veirai cest' amor de lonh.
mas non sai cras la veirai,
car tant son nstras trras lonh.
Assatz i a prtz e camis,
e per a non soi devis.
Mas tot sia com a Diu platz.
Be'm parra jis quand li querrai,
Per amor Diu, l'albrc de lonh,
E, s'a liis platz, albergarai
Prs de liis, si bem soi de lonh,
Adoncs parral parlaments fis
Quand drutz lnhdas er tant vesis
Qu'ab bls digs jausirai solatz.
Be tenc lo Senhor per verai
Per qu'iu veirai l'amor de lonh,
Mas per un be que m'en eschai
N'ai dos mals, car tant m'es de lonh
Ay! Car no fui lai pelegris,
Si que mos fustz e mos tapis
Fos pels sius bls ulhs remiratz!
Dius qui fetz tot quant ve ni vai
E formt cest' amor de lonh
Mi don poder, que cr iu n'ai,
Qu'en bru veia l'amor de lonh,
Veraiament en lcs aisis,
Si que la cambra el jardis
Mi ressembls tostemps palatz.
Ver ditz qui m'apla lechai
e desirn d'amor de lonh,
que nulhs autres jis tant nom plai
Com jausiments d'amor de lonh.
Mas qu'iu vulh m'es tant as,
Qu'enaiim fadt mos pairis
Qu'iu ams e non fos amatz.
Mas qu'iu vulh m'es tant as
Totz sia mauditz lo pairis
quem fadt qu'iu non fos amatz
Joy and Love Afar
By Jaufr Rudel
(Translated by A.Z. Foreman)
Now that the days grow long in May
I hear birds' gentle song afar.
When from that song I turn away
my mind turns to my love afar.
Bent with desire, downcast and dour,
no springbird's song or whitethorn flower
can touch me more than winter's chill.
Never will I find joy on earth
in love, without my love afar
who shines above all other worth.
Above all others, near and far
her virtue reigns so true and pure
I'd die a prisoner of war
in Saracen lands to serve her will.
Half grieved, half joyful will I go
once having seen my love afar.
When shall we meet? I do not know,
for our two lands lie far too far.
So many paths by land and sea,
what lies ahead I cannot see
but all things follow God's good will.
What bliss, for love of God, will be
there in the lodge of love afar!
I'll lodge with her if she wants me,
although a stranger from afar.
O discourse will be dear the day
I come, her love from faraway,
to hear love's words and feel its thrill.
I call him Lord who I believe
shall let me see my love afar,
though for each pleasure I receive
two ills, since she remains so far.
I'd go a pilgrim to that shrine
to see my dust-dark tunic shine
reflected in those bright eyes still.
God who made all things swift and still
and fashioned me my love afar,
grant me a way, I have the will,
soon to behold my love afar,
in such a truly pleasant place
that chamber wall and garden space
will seem a palace on a hill.
He speaks the truth who says I yearn
________________________________________________________________________________
Bernart de Ventadorn
(1130-1140-1190/1200; occitano, trovador)
La doussa votz aiauzida
La dousa votz ai auzida
del rosinholet sauvatg,
et es mins cor salhida
si qu tot lo cosirer
els mals traihs quamors me dona,
madousa e mazona;
et auriab mester
lautrui jois at meu damnatge.
Ben es totz om davol vida
cab joi non a son estatge
e qui vas amor no guida
so cor e so dezirer;
car tot can es sabandona
vas joi e refrime sona:
prat e deves e verger,
landas e pla e boschatge.
Eu, las! cui Amors oblida,
que sui fors del dreih viatge,
agra de joi ma partida,
mas iram fai destorber;
e no sai on me repona
pus mo joi me desazona;
enom tenhatz per leuger
seu dic alcu vilanatge.
Una fausa deschauzida
triritz de mal linhatge
and lust for naught but love afar.
What joy on earth would I not spurn
just to enjoy my love afar?
But what I want is barred with hate.
My godfather1 has fixed my fate
to love well and be treated ill.
Oh what I want I'll never find.
God damn that godfather of mine
who doomed my love to bring me ill.
http://poemsintranslation.blogspot.com/2016/01/
jaufre-rudel-love-afar-from-occitan.html
ma trit (et es trida,
e cohl lo roam ab ques fer);
e can autre larazona,
deus lo seu tort lochaizona;
et an ne mais li derrer
queu que nai faih lonc badatge.
Mout lavia gen servida
tro ac vas mi cor volatge;
e pus ilh no mes cobida,
mout sui fols, si mais la ser.
Servirs com no gazardona,
et esperansa bretona
fai de senhor escuder
per costum e per uzatge.
Pois tan es vas me falhida,
aisi lais so senhoratge,
e no volh quem siaizida
ni ja mais parlar non qur.
Mas pero qui men razona,
la paudla men es bona,
e men esjau volonter
em nalegre mo coratge.
Deus il do maleschardia
qui porta mauvais mesatge,
queu agra amor jauzida,
si no foso lauzenger.
Fols qui ab sidons tensona,
quelh perdo selam perdona,
e tuih cilh son mesonger
quem nan faih dire folatge!
E cut the branch to beat her with!)
Lo vers mi porta, Corona,
lai a midons a Narbona,
que tuih sei faih son enter,
com non pot dire folatge.
I HAVE HEARD THE SWEET VOICE SING
(trans. James D. Donaldson)
I have heard the sweet voice sing
of the timid nightingale,
it's impressed upon my heart
so that all the care and pain
and mistreatment love can give
he has sweetened and made mild,
so to heal my pain I need
joy that rises from outside.
It's a bad life that one leads
if there is no joy with him,
or if he won't guide to love
his desiring and his heart:
all things that exist run free
when chimes out joy's happy sound:
meadow, hedgerow, garden, grove,
heaths and. plains and woodland too.
But if I forget to love
I have surely lost my way:
I may have my share of joy -
sadness will disturb me still,
and I don't know where to hide
since joy's taken me away
and don't think that I am bad
if some base remark slips out.
One who's false, with ill-intent,
traitress of a mean descent,
has betrayed me (and herself:
then when someone questions her
she excuses her mistake,
and the worst are better off
than am I, who've waited long.
I served my lady very well
till she thought my heart had changed
and no longer took my side.
It were foolish to go on
and to serve without reward
and with only Breton hope
makes a knight into a squire
both by custom and by use.
Since she had withdrawn from me
I departed from her rule.
I don't want her to be near me,
and I don't want to speak on,
but when someone speaks of her
all the talk seems good to me
and enjoyment is renewed
and within my heart I'm glad.
May God give a bad reward
to the bearer of bad news,
I would have had joy of love
if there were no slanderers.
Only fools debate their ladies;
I forgive if she forgives,
and they're liars, one and all
who've let me speak foolishness.
E
O Corona, take my verse
to my lady in Narbonne,
since her acts are all complete,
no one may speak foolishness.
Thibaut de Champagne
(Troyes, Champagne; 1201-1253, trovre)
Por mal tens ne por gelee
Por mal tens ne por gelee
ne por frpide matinee
ne por nule autre riens nee
ne partirai ma pensee
damors que jai,
que trop lai amee
de cur verai.
Valara!
Bele et blonde et coloree,
moi plest quaque vos agree;
et, Dex!, car me fust doune
lamors que vos ai rouvee,
quant vos priai,
sele mest vee,
je me morrai.
Valara!
Dame, en la vostre Baillie
aim is mon cors et ma vie,
por Dieu, ne mocez mie!
La ou fins cuers sumilie
doit on trouver
merci et ae
por conforter.
Valara!
Dame, faites cortoisie!
plaise vos que en ma vie
iceste parole die:
ma bele, tres douce amie
vos os nonmer,
conques noi envie
dautrui amr.
Valara!
Onques jor ne me soi plaidre,
tant seroit ma dolor graindre,
n damr ne [me] sai faindre,
ne mes maus ne puis estaindre,
se je ne di
que toz vuelt remainder
en sa merci.
Valara!
Trop seroit fort a estaindre
chansons de li;
lamors est a fraindre
dont pens a li.
Valara!
(Traduccin de Gema Valln)
I. Ni por mal tiempo, ni helada, ni fra maana,
por nada del mundo, dejar de pensar en el amor
que tengo, pues mucho la he amado de corazn
sincere. Tralar!
II. Bella, rubia y rozagante, quiero cuanto a vos
os place; y, ay Dios!, pues me fue dado el amor
que os ped, implorndoos, si me es negado,
morir. Tralar!
III. Dama, he puesto el corazn y la vida a
vuestra disposicin, por Dios, no me matis!
Cuanod el corts corazn se humilla debe hacer
merced y ayuda para dar consuelo. Tralar!
IV. Dama, haced cortesa! Os gusta que nunca
diga esto, qu no ose nombraros mi bella, mi
amada amiga, y es que no deseo amar a otra.
Tralar!
V. Nunca acabara de lamentarme, tan grande
sera mi dolor, ni sabra dejar de amar, ni calmar
mis males, si no dijera que quiero sguir estando
siempre a su merced. Tralar!
VI. Sera difcil no hacer canciones sobre ella; el
amor me apoca cuando pienso en ella. Tralar!
Fuente:
Valln, Gema. La retrouenge de Thibaut de
Champagne. Actas del VIII Congreso
Internacional de la Asociacin
Hispnica de Literatura Medieval. Eds.
Margarita Freixas y Silvia Iriso.
Santander: Grficas Delfos, 2000. 1751-
1758. Web. 7 Mar 2016
Marcabru
(Gascua; 1110-1150, trovador) VI.
Senher, dis elha, ben o crey
A la fontana del vergier que Dieus aya d mi mercey
I. em lautre segle per jassey,
A la fontana del vergier, quon assatz dautres peccadors;
on lerb es vertz jostal gravier, mas say mi tolh aquelha rey
a lombra dun fust domesgier, don joy mi crec; mas pauc mi tey,
en aiziment de blancas flors que trop ses de mi alonhatz.
e de novelh chant costumier,
trobey sola, ses companhier,
selha que no vol mon solatz. Marcabru. A la fontana del vergier. Rialto
293.1. University of Naples. Web. Mar 2016.
II.
So fon donzelhab son cors belh, http://www.rialto.unina.it/Mbru/293.1(Gaunt-
filha dun senhor de castelh; Harvey-Paterson).htm
e quant ieu cugey que lauzelh
li fesson joy e la verdors E n g lish tra n sla tio n
e, pel dous termini novelh,
I. By the orchards spring, where the grass is
quela entendes mon favelh,
green beside the bank, in the shade of a fruit
tost li fon sos afars camjatz.
tree, with its pretty white flowers and the usual
spring birdsong, I came across that young
III.
woman who, alone and without companion, does
Dels huelhs ploret josta la fon
not want my company.
e del cor sospiret preon.
II. She was a beautiful young lady, the daughter
Jhesus, dis elha, reys del mon,
of the lord of a castle; and just when I thought
per vos mi creys ma gran dolors,
that the greenery and the birds would delight her
quar vostra anta mi cofon,
and that, on account of the sweet springtime, she
quar li mellor de tot est mon
would listen to mysuit, her preoccupations
vos van servir, mas a vos platz.
suddenly changed.
III. Beside the spring she wept and sighed from
the bottom of her heart; Jesus, she said, king
IV.
of the world, because of you my great sorrow is
Ab vos sen vai o mieus amicx,
increasing, for your shame is my undoing: the
lo belhs el gens el pros el ricx;
best of all this world are going to serve you,
sai men reman lo grans destrix,
since it is your will.
lo deziriers soven els plors.
IV. My love, the handsome, courtly, brave and
Ay! mala fos reys Lozocx,
noble, departs with you; great distress, frequent
que fai los mans e los prezicx
longing and tears stay here with me. Oh! Cursed
per quel dols mes el cor intratz!
be King Louis, who orders the call to arms and
the preaching which are the cause of this grief
V.
entering my heart!
Quant ieu lauzi desconortar,
V. When I heard her lamenting, I went up to her
ves lieys vengui jostal riu clar:
by the clear stream. Pretty lady, I said, too
Belha, fim ieu, per trop plorar
much crying spoils the looks and complexion,
afolha cara e colors;
and you dont need to despair, for He who
e no vos qual dezesperar,
makes the woods come into leaf can give you
que selh qui fai lo bosv fulhar
much joy.
vos pot donar de joy assatz.
 VI. Sir, she said, I do believe that God will me joy (through whom my joy increased), but he
have mercy on me forever in the next world, as thinks little of me, for he has gone so far away
He will on many other sinners; but here He is from me.
taking away from me the one person who gave

Beatritz de Dia o Comtessa de Dia

(1140-1212)

A chantar mer de so quieu non volvria

A chantar mer de so quieu non volvria,

Tan me rancur de lui cui sui amia,
Car ieu lam mais que nuilla ren que sia:
Vas lui no .m val merces ni cortesa
Ni ma beltatz ni mos pret ni mos sens,
Catressi .m sui enganade traha
Com degr esser, sieu fos desavinens.

Daisso.m conort car anc.non fi faillenssa,

Amics, vas vos per nuilla captenenssa,
Anz vos am mais non fetz Seguis Valenssa,
E platz mi mout quez eu dmar vos venssa,
Lo mieus amics, car etz lo plus valens;
Mi faitz orguoill en ditz et en parvenssa,
E si etz francs vas totas autras gens.

Be .m meravill com vostre cors sorguoilla

Amics, vas me, per quai razon quieu .m duoiilla;
Non es ges dreitz cautramors vos mi tuoilla
Per nilla ren quie .us diga ni acuoilla;
E membre vos cals fo .l comenssamens
De nostramor! Ja Dompnedieus non vuoilla
Quen ma colpa sia .l departimens.

Proesa grans quel vostre cors saizina

E lo rics prtez quavetz men atana,
Cuna non sai, loindana ni vecina,
Si vol amar, vas vos non si aclina;
Mas vos, amics, etz ben tan conoissens
Que ben devetz conoisser la plus fina,
E membre vos de nostres covinens.

Valer mi deu os pret e mos partages

E ma beltatz e plus mos fis cratges,
Per quieu vos mandad lai on es vostr Estatges
Esta chansson que me isa messatges:
Ieu vuoill saber, lo mieus bels amics gens,
Per que vos metz tanta fers ni tant salvatges,
Non sai, si ses orguoills o maltalens.
Mas aitan plus vuoill li digas messatges,
Quen trop dorguoills o ant gran dan maintas gens.

Ahora deber cantar de lo que no querra

Ahora deber cantar de lo que no querra, Tanto me lamento del que no

soy amiga, Pues le amo ms que a cualquier cosa en el mundo Pero no
valen ante l ni la piedad ni la cortesa Ni mi belleza ni mi valor ni mi
juicio, Porque soy engaada y traicionada Como sucedera si fuera poco
agraciada.

Me conforto pensando que jams y de ningn modo Cometera

equvoco hacia vos, amigo, Sino que os amo ms de lo que Segui am a
Valensa, Y me agrada venceros en amor, Amigo mo, porque sois el
mejor; Sois orgulloso conmigo en las palabras y en los modos, Mientras
que os mostris amables con todos.

Me sorprende como hacia m vuestro corazn se muestra duro, Amigo,

por lo que tengo razn para dolerme; No es justo en absoluto que otro amor
os aparte de m, Sea lo que sea lo que os diga o conceda; Y recordad cul
fue el inicio de nuestro amor! El Seor Dios no quiera Que sea ma la
culpa de la separacin.

La noble virtud que habita en vuestro corazn Y el alto valor que

poseis me intimidan, Pues no conozco dama cercana o lejana, Que,
dispuesta a amar, no sea atrada por vos. Pero vos, amigo, tenis tanto
juicio Que bien debis conocer la ms perfecta; Y acordaos de vuestro
pacto.

Deben ayudarme mrito y nobleza Y la belleza y an ms la sinceridad de nimo,

Por ello os mando all donde moris Esta cancin, que sea mi mensajera;
Y quiero saber, mi gentil y bello amigo, Por qu sois tan altanero y cruel conmigo:
No s si por orgullo o mal talante.

Ms an quiero que os diga el mensajero: Por demasiado orgullo mucha gente ha sufrido gran dao.
Traduccin M Milagros Rivera Garretas, Ana Maeru Mndez Fuente: Las Trovadoras,
poetisas del amor corts. Ed. Horas y Horas, 1997.