Cantar dels trobadors - Gerard Zuchetto, Troubadours Art Ensemble

Cantar dels trobadors - Art of the troubadours - Gerard Zuchetto, Troubadours Art Ensemble

Art dels trobadors, Art des troubadours, Kunst der Troubadours

Singing the songs of the troubadours
‘‘Interpreting the troubadours, today, poses to all contemporary singers the unavoidable questions of re-creation and of creation : To sing? To recite? To relate ? To play? To improvise? With or without instruments? Which instruments to play, and how? These are among the pressing questions which demand answers from lovers of the Trobar repertory. To these questions must be added, beyond artistic positions, inquiries concerning the reliability of the manuscript sources and of an "authenticity" which must be verified.

It seems to us indispensable to comprehend Medieval iconography and texts in all their visible aspects and in the sense of the words, in order to attempt to arrive at a new idea of the work and of its author, and to bring into the forefront the artistic personality of the troubadour.

Comprehension of the razo (subject) of the poem, with its motz coberts, can determine the orientation of an interpretation of the text's dramatic sense. Awareness of the compas (melody and metrical structure of the poem), as well as the melismatic
ornamentation of a melody, may allow the guidance of rhythm and phrasing of vocal expression toward an optimum word-sonority.
Analysis of the entrebescamen of the poem (words and music entangled, repetition of phonemes and rhymes) can guide the flexibility and the amplitude of the song. The representations of the poets (miniatures and illustrated texts) are indications about gestures and movement.
Knowledge of the historical and legendary context of the poet, by means of the portraits sketched in the vidas and razos, contributes in the most active way toward giving a subjective character to our interpretation and toward influencing our own creation.

From 1071 to 1292, during two centuries, each generation defended the principle of "trobar" and of writing new songs with new melodies ("new" meaning "original"). They put into the spotlight the technique of singing, writing, inventing : maestria and novelty in trobar. The poets affirmed trends in ideas and aesthetic choices. Trobar e chantar are the master-words which should define for us the art and the manner of interpreting the works. This desire for freshness, present in every act of writing, should awake arouse in us curiosity and sensibility. We cannot remain impassible when listening to these great songs, which call out to us with each verse. To interpret them without getting involved in the text seems nonsensical to us. The discreet Bernart de Ventadorn urged his joglar Huguet : Mos cortes messatges, chantatz ma chanso volontiers ! "My courteous messenger, sing my song with pleasure !" Which is to say, with ease, with enjoyment, heartily, willingly, so as to give you joy! The sense of Bernart's instructions cannot escape us. It is the volontary, determined character of an interpretation, supporting itself on the
sense of the text and on its context, which must take precedence, along with the sonority of the words, flexibility of expression and the melodic construction.
Let us go to the source! In order to rediscover the image of Giraut de Bornelh who could "compose" also for humble water carriers. Let us quench our thirst, refresh ourselves, enjoy, delight in words and sounds: when all is said and done, this seems to us to be the best way to sing the repertory of the troubadours.’’ Gerard Zuchetto

Collection Votz de Trobar - Libre-CD 04.

Editions Tròba Vox.

Les artistes:

Gerard Zuchetto - Gisela Bellsolà - Jan dau Melhau
Chant / Voice / Gesang

Guy Robert : luth, harpe, saz, oud, orgue portatif / Lute, harp, saz, oriental lute, portativ organ Laute, harfe, saz, arabische laute, tragbare Orgel

Dominique Regef : vièle à archet, rebecs, israj, vielle à roue / Fiddle, rebecs, israj, hurdy gurdy Bogenfiedel, rebec, israj, radleier

Domitille Vigneron : vièle à archet, flûte / Fiddle, flute / Bogenfiedel, Flöte

Patrice Brient : vièle à archet basse / Bass fiddle / Bassbogenfiedel

Jacques Khoudir : percussions, tambourin, derboka, bendir / Percussions / Schlaginstrumente


Summary:
Introduction / Einführung 4-6

01 - Jaufre Rudel de Blaia : Vida / biographie 8-9
          No sap chantar qui so no di 10-11
          Il ne sait pas chanter….
02 - Marcabru : Vida / biographie 12-13
          L’autrier jost’una sebissa 14-17
          L’autre jour près d’une haie
03 - Bernart de Ventadorn : Vida / biographie 20-21
          Quan vei la lauzeta mover 23-25
          Quand je vois l’alouette…
04 - Peire Raimon de Tolosa : Vida / biographie 26-27
          Pensamen ai e consir 27-31
          J’ai l’intention et le souci…
05 - Bernart de Ventadorn : Tant ai mon cor ple de joia 33-37
          J’ai mon coeur si plein de joie
06 - Cerverí de Girona : biographie 38-39
          Tart fa hom mal 41-43
          Un homme ne fait pas de mal…
07 - Raimon de Miraval : Vida / biographie 44-45
          Contr’amors vau durs et embroncs 52-57
          Contre l’amour je suis triste et renfrogné
08 - Giraut de Bornelh : Vida / biographie 50-51
          Leu chansoneta e vil 53-57
          Une chansonnette légère et vile
09 - Uc de Sant Circ : Vida / biographie 58-59
          Tres enemics e dos mals senhors ai 61-63
          J’ai trois ennemis et deux mauvais seigneurs…
10 - Raimon de Miraval : Ben aia’l cortes esciens 65-67
          Béni soit le savoir courtois
11 - Pons Fabre d’Uzès : biographie 68
          Quan pens qui sui fui so que’m franh 69-71
          Quand je pense à qui je suis…