Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Occitan: tongue of the troubadours, brought to life

I had the pleasure of discovering this video, which may be one of the ultimate expressions of modern medievalism in the musical sphere. Introducing Lo Còr De La Plana, an Occitan revivalist polyphonic choir that sounds just as much like a rap group as anything else. 



Occitan is also known as the lenga d'òc, roughly meaning "the language of oc", oc meaning "yes". The people of southern France adapted it from the Latin word hoc ("this"), and by the Middle Ages, Occitan developed a unique language apart from the French of their northern neighbors. Today it stands on the verge of extinction, but in its heyday, Occitan was the native speech of such powermongerers as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. It was the established tongue of the troubadours, the men (and women, called trobairitz) who repurposed music as a legitimate pursuit for the upper class. Before, the mere minstrel, like the actor, was perceived to fill a crude occupation. But men such as William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, made it fashionable for the highborn to compose and sing songs of chivalry and courtly love; especially the theme of forbidden love.

One such example of troubadour music, which might suggest some Moorish influence in the style:



This one, allegedly composed by Richard the Lionheart himself, speaks of his capture and ransom by the dirty Austrians:

 



8 comments:

  1. Apple doesn't support these videos. Please, can you post the youtube links?

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    1. Thanks. I suggest to you to pubblicate always the links, so you can be sure everyboby Who has youtube will be able to see them.
      P.S. I love your blog. As many disgusted by the mediocrity and volgarity of the modern "Civilization", I am looking for concrete (is it the correct translation of Italian "concreti"?) models and exemples/ exempla of real everyday life, well done "ragionamenti" (I don't know the English word D: ), right actions and behaviours, to live more poetically, more courtly than the subject of the Modernity anticivilization. Thank you much for your work! :D

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  2. Anyway, I suppose you didn't even read my suggestion of this website (with a google translate bar at right) traditioliturgica.blogspot.it ? :(

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    1. I did, not to worry. However, as I currently work full-time and attend school full-time at the moment, I don't have as much time to reply to comments as I'd like to. In fact, there are literally not enough hours in the day for me to do all of my homework unless I decided to make a perpetual vow of abstinence from sleep.

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    2. Ahah, God will give you the strenght. I'll pray for you :D

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  3. Perhaps, when you will have some time, if you want, you could write one/some article(s) about the love on the middle Age and the courtly love. Many speak about love as adversed by the Church in Middle Ages and the courtly love adversing Church. When you'll have time, behold an interesting topic to write about, a topic very current,

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