O troubadour is a literary movement that was marked by the production of lyrical songs (focused on feelings and emotions) and satirical (with direct or indirect criticism).
Considered the first European literary movement, it gathered written records from the first epoch of medieval literature between the 11th and 14th centuries.
This movement, which took place only in Europe, had as its main characteristic the approximation of music and poetry.
At that time, poems were meant to be sung to the sound of musical instruments. Generally, they were accompanied by flute, viola, lute, hence the name “cantigas”.
The author of the songs was called “troubadour”, while the “jogral” recited them and the “minstrel”, in addition to reciting, also played the instruments. Therefore, the minstrel was considered superior to the juggler for having more instruction and artistic ability, as he knew how to play and sing.
All the manuscripts of the troubadour songs found are gathered in documents called “cancioneiros”.
In Portugal, this movement had as its starting point the Cantiga da Ribeirinha (or Cantiga de Guarvaia), written by the troubadour Paio Soares da Taveirós, in 1189 or 1198, as the year in which it was produced is not known for sure.
Written in Galician-Portuguese (the language that was spoken at the time), the Cantiga da Ribeirinha (or Cantiga de Guarvaia) is the oldest record of literary production at that time in Portuguese lands.
Check out an excerpt from this song below:
In the world I don't know a match,
lie me for' how are you,
ca ja moiro for you - oh!
my white and red sir,
Do you want me to withdraw
when I saw you in skirt!
Ma day I got up,
that you enton not vi fea!
Although troubadourism originated in the Provence region (southern France), it has spread to other countries in the Europe, as the Provençal troubadours were considered the best of the time, and their style was imitated throughout the part.
Troubadourism had its decline in the 14th century, when another movement of the second Portuguese medieval period began: humanism.
Historical context of Troubadourism
Troubadourism originated on the European continent during the Middle Ages, a long period of history that was marked by a religious society. In it, the Catholic Church entirely dominated Europe.
In this context, theocentrism (God at the center of the world) prevailed, whose man occupied a secondary place and was at the mercy of Christian values.
In this way, the medieval church was the most important social institution and the greatest representative of the Christian faith. She who dictated values, directly influencing man's behavior and thought. Thus, only people in the Church knew how to read and had access to education.
During this period, feudalism was the prevailing economic, political and social system. Based on manors, large tracts of land ruled by the nobles, the society was rural and self-sufficient. In it, the peasant lived miserably and land ownership gave freedom and power.
Main characteristics of Troubadourism
- Union of music and poetry;
- Recitation of poems with musical accompaniment;
- Production of lyrical songs (which evidences the feelings, emotions and perceptions of the author) and satirical (which aims to criticize or ridicule something or someone);
- Main themes explored: love, suffering, friendship and political and social criticism.
Learn more about Characteristics of Troubadourism.
Troubadourism in Portugal (1189 or 1198 - 1418)
Portuguese troubadourism had its heyday in the 12th and 13th centuries, falling into decline in the 14th century.
The year 1189 (or 1198) is considered the starting point for Portuguese literature and the troubadour movement.
This is the probable date of the first known literary composition "Cantiga da Ribeirinha” or “Cantiga de Guarvaia”. It was written by the troubadour Paio Soares da Taveirós and dedicated to Maria Pais Ribeiro.
In the Iberian Peninsula, the center that radiates Troubadourism took place in the region that comprises the north of Portugal and Galicia.
Since the 11th century, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a center of religious pilgrimage, has attracted crowds. There, the troubadour songs were sung in Galician-Portuguese, a language spoken in the region.
Although prose texts have been explored in troubadour (cavalry novels, nobiliary, hagiographies and chronicles), it was in poetry that this movement stood out.
Thus, we have the troubadour lyrics, which include the songs of love and friend, and the satirical poems, which bring together the songs of mockery and cursing.
See also about the Origins of Portuguese Literature it's the Humanism.
Main authors of troubadourism in Portugal
King D. Dinis (1261-1325) was a great supporter who honored the poetic production in his court. He was himself one of the most talented medieval troubadours with a production of 140 lyrical and satirical songs.
Besides him, other troubadours who achieved great prominence in Portugal were:
- Paio Soares de Taveirós
- João Soares Paiva
- João Garcia de Guilhade
- Martin Codax
- Aires Teles
The songs of Troubadourism
Depending on the theme, structure, language and lyrical self, the troubadour songs they are classified into four types: songs of love, friend, mockery and cursing.
love songs
Originating in the region of Provence, France, it presents a subtle and well-elaborated poetic expression. Feelings are expressed in greater depth, with the most frequent theme being love suffering.
“Cantiga da Ribeirinha” by Paio Soares de Taveirós
In the world I don't know a match,
lie me for' how are you,
ca ja moiro for you - oh!
my white and red sir,
Do you want me to withdraw
when I saw you in skirt!
Ma day I got up,
that you enton not vi fea!
And, my lord, des that
it was me very bad di'ai!,
And you, daughter of Don Paai
Moniz, and good to you
d'haver for you guard,
because I, my lord, from Alfaia
never of you was there any hei
it was worth the strap.
Translation
Nobody in the world resembles me
As long as life goes on as it goes,
Because I die for you and - oh! -
My white and pink-skinned lady,
do you want me to portray you
When I saw you without a robe.
Damn the day I got up
And then I didn't see you ugly!
And my lady, since that day, oh!
Everything happened to me very badly!
And to you, daughter of Dom Paio
Moniz, looks good to you
May you present me with a guarvaia,
For I, my lady, as a gift,
I had never received anything from you,
Even if of negligible value.
friend songs
Originally from the Iberian Peninsula, the songs from friend are the oldest and most original manifestation of Portuguese lyricism.
In them, the troubadour tries to translate the feminine feelings, speaking as if she were a woman. At that time, the word “friend” meant “boyfriend” or “lover”.
Song “Oh God, if you sab'ora my friend” by Martin Codax
Oh God, if you please my friend
com'me lady I'm in Vigo!
And I'm going girlfriend...
Oh God, if you please my beloved
com'eu in Vigo madam!
And I'm going girlfriend...
With'me lady I'm in Vigo
and nulhas gardas I have not with me!
And I'm going girlfriend...
With'me lady in Vigo morning
and nulos gardas migo i do not bring!
And I'm going girlfriend...
And nulhas gardas I don't have with me,
lift up my eyes that cry my friend!
And I'm going girlfriend...
And nuls gardas migo i don't bring,
lift up my eyes that cry both!
And I'm going girlfriend...
Songs of derision and songs of cursing
These types of songs are satirical and irreverent, which gathered verses that criticized society, customs and ridiculed human defects.
Song of derision “Dom Foam wants me to gram mal” by João Garcia de Guilhade
Dom Foam wants me to gram badly
and want'a water gram well;
gram sazom there is that m'est'avém
and never will i ever do al;
ca, desquand'i sa molher vi,
if i could, i always served her
and he always looked bad.
I want to show myself now,
and it will weigh a lot '[a] someone,
more, even if moira for en,
say I want from the bad hand
and very good one,
which one in the world is better,
I want to show [it] already.
of opinion and of speaking
and have good mornings,
she can't win
owner in the world', to take care of me;
here she made Nostro Lord
and he made the demo bigger,
and the demo makes him talk.
And because they both sound,
as I have in my heart,
judge those who can be valid.
know more about The Language of Troubadourism.
Songbooks of Troubadourism
You Songbooks they are collections of manuscripts of the troubadour songs that were produced in Galician-Portuguese in the first medieval period (from the 11th century onwards).
They bring together songs of love, friend, mockery and cursing, which were written by various authors.
These are the only documents left for the knowledge of the works of Troubadourism and, nowadays, we can find them in libraries in the city of Lisbon and the Vatican.
The three songbooks that bring together the troubadour songs are:
- Songbook of Help: consisting of 310 songs, this songbook can be found in the Ajuda Palace Library, in Lisbon, probably originated in the 13th century.
- Songbook of the National Library of Lisbon: also known by its name in Italian, “Cancioneiro Colocci-Brancuti”, this songbook, composed of 1647 songs, was probably compiled in the 15th century.
- Vatican Songbook: probably originated in the 15th century and composed of 1205 songs, this songbook is in the Vatican Library.
Test your knowledge on this topic at: Exercises on Troubadourism
