Picture this: ornately dressed noble people seated at long tables full of food and drink in a fire-lit hall. In a corner sits someone playing harp and singing. The medieval costumes we can imagine, the taste of the roasted pig, the spiced wine even — harder to conjure is the sound of the troubadour’s song. Luckily, many of these songs were notated in manuscripts that survived to this day. So we can do better than imagine the songs of the troubadours, we can sing them!
And they are beautiful, tragic and sometimes playful. While the troubadours most often sang of the same heartache we hear when we turn on the radio, the repertoire seems otherwise to have little in common with most post-medieval Western music. It can indeed be challenging for the novice interpreter, but understanding and learning to sing troubadour songs can be extremely rewarding. All levels of musicians, in particular singers, can develop their technique and overall musicality and gain valuable insight into the medieval world and its legacy. This workshop will introduce participants to the troubadours and their exceptional contribution to the musical (and literary) history of Europe. Together we will explore the components of troubadour song, namely lyrics, melody and “rhythm”, and their interaction. Participants will be led step-by-step from manuscript to performance. As the troubadour repertoire is centered around lyrics, this workshop is mostly geared towards singers. Instrumentalists are however welcome; troubadour song accompaniment will be covered. Pitch: A=440.
