A troubadour is a minstrel, or poet-musician, who lived and worked at a certain time in a certain place. More specifically - in Provence, in the XI-XII centuries. The term itself came from the verb trobar, which in translation from the Provencal (or Occitan) language means "to compose."
Homeland of the Troubadours
Provence (a historical region located in the southeast of the country) is the cradle of French culture, since the work of the minstrels of the Mature Middle Ages laid the foundation for the first literary language - Romance. It can be argued that the troubadour is the direct predecessor of all the poets of Catalonia and Northern Italy, as well as the Minnesingers singing love, the Truvers, medieval epic poets, and Dante himself, and all who came for him. In the XI-XII centuries, it was Provence that experienced a great economic, and after it a cultural upsurge. A special kind of court knightly etiquette arises, based on the ability to behave in society, be interesting and win the hearts of beautiful ladies, then worship the chosen one as an icon and perform noble deeds and feats for her sake. Provencal poetry, serving as an unattainable model for all the surrounding nations, praised the knights who knew how to serve a beautiful lady.
The birth of a new direction in literature
In a concise wording, the troubadour is a courteous poet whose work was dominated by the cult of the lady. Authors and performers of the works recognized themselves as servants and vassals of a woman, praised her nobleness, beauty, sophistication and other virtues, as well as acts performed in the name of the Queen of the Heart by knights.
It should be noted that, unlike the
heroic epos, glorifying the feat of the people, the poetry of the troubadours demonstrates the growth of individual self-awareness. Specific heroes, such as Tristan or the
Knights of the Round Table, perform specific actions in the name of beloved women. It is believed that the first troubadour, which was so called, was Guillaume IX, Duke of Aquitaine. In this case, Troubadour is a well-deserved nickname for a talented and successful poet, who gave impetus to the development of all French literature.
Representatives of the courteous literature
The first Provence musician poets include Goselm Fedi, Peyre Vidal, Giraut de Bornel, Giraut Riquiere and some others. Interestingly, women were also troubadours. The names of 17 are known. The most popular of them is Beatrice de Dia. Moreover, in the XII century, the management of several large feuds, headed by graphs, patrons of the arts, passed into the hands of women. Naturally, in Carcassonne County, in the Duchy of Aquitaine, in the Nimes, Narbonne and Bezierskoe viconies, art and literature flourished during the reign of the ladies in magnificent colors. One of the most famous works of courtly literature is considered to be the “Lancelot” by Chretien de Trois. The novel in verse celebrates the love of Queen Ginerva, the wife of the legendary Arthur, and the exploits for her, performed by one of the most famous knights of the Round Table Lancelot.
Distinctive features of the work of the troubadours
A minstrel could be a person who has the ability to compose impromptu and owns a musical instrument. He should have been aware of all the news, especially the courtiers, and master the art of subtle flattery. Mostly troubadours sang love, spring, the joy of life. And although the Albigoy Crusade (a series of campaigns of 1209-1229 undertaken to eradicate heresy) completely ceased to exist, these singers, poets, songwriters left a great cultural heritage and a wonderful memory of themselves. In their work, revived by romantics, interest does not fade away in our time. The very name of the singer and poet “troubadour” sounds beautiful, although in those days there were many names: truver, minstrel, minnesinger and bard. The genres especially honored by troubadours include, first of all, canzone and lilac, lamentation and alba, pastorell, tenson and ballad. All this is different in form and subject of the song, but they are united by the sophistication of form and the obligatory accuracy of the rhyme. In manuscripts that have survived to this day, there are up to 500 names of troubadours, 40 of which are known to lovers and connoisseurs of poetry. Starting from the XIV century, the concept of “troubadour” was forgotten, but romantic poets in their work turned to the heritage of the minstrels of the Middle Ages, and interest in them flared up with renewed vigor. So the great Italian composer called one of his masterpieces this word.
Greatest opera
"Troubadour", the opera of the great Giuseppe Verdi, written on the libretto of his friend Salvatore Cammarano and saw the light in 1853, after the death of the librettist became one of the largest works of J. Verdi. And although the events described in it belong to the 15th century, the court poet and musician Manrico, the protagonist of the work is called a troubadour. This work of the ingenious composer was on a par with his operas such as Rigoletto and La Traviata. The composer was so captivated by the idea of ​​the play by A. G. Gutieres, a Spanish playwright, that he wrote all the music for the immortal opera in 29 days. Troubadour, an opera premiered in Rome on January 19, 1853, immediately became incredibly popular and conquered almost all of Europe. Wonderful music, beautiful solo parts overshadowed the famously twisted plot intrigue, which was attended by gypsies, stealing count children, the love of two brothers for one woman, a duel between them, the death of almost all the heroes. There were many such stories at all times. Immortal opera is done only by the music of the incomparable Giuseppe Verdi.
The revival of interest in this word in Soviet times
In our country, the name "troubadour" was glorified by the famous cartoon, the first part of which was released in 1969, and the second - in 1973. The troubadour from the "Bremen Town Musicians" has become one of the most famous cartoon characters. The incredible success of the first part, based on the
fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, prompted authors Yuri Entin, Vasily Livanov, composer Gennady Gladkov to create a sequel, which was called "Following the Bremen Town Musicians." And although the second part had nothing to do with great German storytellers, it turned out to be entertaining, interesting and no less beloved by Soviet spectators than the first.
The same heroes: Princess and Troubadour, Cat and Dog, Donkey and Rooster - continue their adventures. The undoubted advantage of both parts is music.
Wonderful Soviet Troubadour
Several generations grew up on these songs, they are incredibly popular and recognizable. Serenade of the Troubadour "Ray of the Golden Sun ..." from the continuation of the cartoon, performed by Muslim Magomaev, has become a musical masterpiece. In addition, the singer in this part voiced the brilliant detective and Atamansha. Their songs are also recognizable and loved by the audience.
Perhaps, thanks to the animated film, these are the most frequently performed things from the repertoire of a wonderful vocalist who has a hit, no matter what the song. Serenade of the Troubadour, along with “Melody”, “Wedding”, “Nocturne”, entered the treasury of domestic pop music. The song "Ray of the Golden Sun ..." brought M. Magomayev the 2008 Best Roller Award.