Medieval music of France: "A Chantar", an Occitan troubadour song (best version)

[@lcope9]

heard a lot of versions of this song, this one is genuinely the best. the droning chord in the background really sets it apart 👌🏽

[@grantjohnson4810]

Some of the lyrics in English "To sing I must of that I would rather not so bitter I am towards him who is my love for I love him more than anyone; my kindness and courtesy make no impression on him nor my beauty, my virtue or intelligence; so I am deceived and betrayed, as I should be if I were unattractive One thing consoles me: that I have never wronged you, my love, by my behavior towards you... for I am glad that my love is greater than yours. my love, since you are the more worthy; you are haughty towards me in your words and your demeanor yet you are friendly to everyone else"... etc

[@ottessa]

Can I ask where you found these lyrics in English? I'm looking for the full translation, or one of a song from the same tradition.

[@joalexsg9741]

Aw, thank you so much for the translation!

[@zukorro470]

What do you mean by "etc"?;) We would like to know all of this beautiful poem to unwanted love... But thank you for that much too!

[@AurelienCarnoy]

ah yes pride singing

[@cehj8021]

props to the dude who went back in recorded this in the 1300s

[@balqeessuleiman5504]

Wrong century bud

[@balqeessuleiman5504]

@@DevynFlute thank you 😎

[@Aaronleoxy]

Huge respect 😔✋

[@hieratics]

1100s

[@martinpaglia7073]

@@hieratics Ca. 1200

[@Konte1]

I Will Sing Love Song (English) I will sing of that which I wouldn't have wanted to, As I complain so much about the one whose friend I am, For I love him more than I love anybody else: Neither pity nor courtesy, neither my beauty Nor my worth, nor my spirit have any value to him, So thus I've been deceived and betrayed As I should be if I was unpleasant. Of that, I comfort myself since I never failed you Friend, in any way. On the contrary, I love you more than Seguin loved Valensa* And it pleases me greatly to surpass you in love, My friend, because you are the most valiant; You're prideful towards me in words and deeds, But you're amiable to other people. I am amazed at how your heart shows conceit Towards me, my friend, and I have reasons to suffer; It's not fair that another love should take you from me For no one thing she told you or permitted of you. And remember what the beginning Of our love was! May the Lord God never want The separation to be my fault. The great goodness that dwells in your heart And the rich value you have worries me, For I know of none, from far away or near Who wouldn't be inclined towards you if she wanted to love; But you, my friend, you are so skilled That you should well know the most perfect one And remember our agreements. My value and my birth and my beauty And my most perfect courage must merit me some worth. It's why I send to you in your abode This song, so that it may be my message: I want to know, my fine and sweet friend, Why you are so cruel and so fierce towards me; I don't know if it's pride or bad intentions. But I want you to tell him, messenger, That many people are damaged by too much pride.

[@catsuperior]

This one is a lot more somber than other versions I've come across. Some interpretations are pretty biting, vicious, and almost sensual in sound; this one, though, really showcases the other side of a lost love - the sorrow, rather than the thirst for revenge!

[@alisha75020]

Can you speak Occitan ?

[@gallici-anima-christiana]

@@alisha75020 I can figure out parts of the song

[@dillj1000]

How beautiful and enchanting this song is.It exudes peacefullness, calmness, and spiritual serenity. I've fallen in love with it. Une chanson tres belle. J'aime beaucoup la musique d'Occitaine.

[@wandarichards5587]

This was influenced by the Cathars.

[@Dibipable]

=-) * d’Occitanie From a french in and of Marseille (⚜️France (occitane)).

[@Dibipable]

wandarichards5587. Euuuuuuh ! Les cathares étaient des occitans, leur territoire est en Occitanie. allô !

[@emmetfahy9151]

Beautiful. We've almost lost Gaeilge in Ireland. Well done for keeping this beautiful language alive. Maith thú!

[@mimasimpersonator3005]

Actually Occitan is in a much worse position than Irish

[@rauðaz]

Occitan is also endangered dude, France doesn't like to preserve their cultures.

[@Dibipable]

J‘ignore si pour les cultures régionales françaises c’est comme chez les irlandais, mais il y a encore des coins ruraux de France métropolitaine qui ont gardé leur culture régionale bien vivace, en Occitanie française c’est surtout dans l’ouest. Après la culture française prend le même chemin, c’est la république « française » qui veut ça et cette dernière est la chose suivante, il s’agit du fait que ce n’est pas la France, la chose suivante, il s’agit du fait que la France est née monarchie absolue catholique et fille aînée de l’église catholique. donc ? Peut-on naître garçon et devenir une fille ? donc ? Vive Dieu, la France et le roi ! ⛪️✝️⚜️France

[@GB-fh3qr]

Bellissima voce. Che suono l'occitano.... Bella l'immagine. Vibrazione di sottofondo così profonda.... I suoni dipingono immagini, colori, sensazioni

[@TomisHarena]

I don't say like when I don't like and the sounds, the inflexions, the melodic labyrinth of this Occitan language, I like.

[@uainediabhal9689]

How anyone can hear this and not be moved, is beyond me

[@joalexsg9741]

Beyond words and the thumbnail is precious. Thank you so much for uploading this gem video here. This is indeed one of the best aspects of KZbin.

[@bluespower7128]

She's singing the blues!

[@KozmicKarmaKoala]

Only an American would make such a repulsive comparison. Why don't you read the Occitan words placed in the comment section to understand what she sings ?....OH !? You can't ! "My bad".

[@gunnerulrich9209]

Most people don't know Occitan. Don't be a puris-... "Kozmic Karma Koala"... "K.. K... K..." KKK... Oh. Oh... OH!!!! Well, snap.

[@processfailed]

I mean, “she” is clearly a male countertenor so, your question kinda falls apart right there. And no, he isn’t, but similar concept.

[@Overlord99762]

I think he'd be considered a Haute-contre

[@mwnyc3976]

"He" is Catherine Bott.

[@Konte1]

A chantar m'er Love Song (Occitan) A chantar m'er de so qu'eu no volria, tant me rancur de lui cui sui amia; car eu l'am mais que nuilla ren que sia: vas lui no.m val merces ni cortezia ni ma beltatz ni mos pretz ni mos sens; c'atressi.m sui enganad' e trahia Com degr' esser, s'eu fos dezavinens. D'aisso.m conort, car anc non fi faillensa, Amics, vas vos per nuilla captenenssa; ans vo am mais non fetz Seguis Valensa, e platz mi mout quez eu d'amar vos vensa, lo meus amics, car etz lo plus valens; mi faitz orgoil en digz et en parvensa, et si etz francs vas totas autras gens. Meraveill me cum vostre cors s'orgoilla, amics, vas me, per qui'ai razon queu.m doilla; non es ges dreitz c'autr' amors vos mi toilla, per nuilla ren que.us diga ni acoilla. E membre vos cals fo.l comensamens de nostr'amor! Ja Dompnedeus non voilla qu'en ma colpa sia.l departimens. Proeza grans, qu'el vostre cors s'aizina e lo rics pretz qu'avetz, m'en ataïna, c'una non sai, loindana ni vezina, si vol amar, vas vos no si' aclina; mas vos, amics, etz ben tant conoissens que ben devetz conoisser la plus fina; e membre vos de nostres partimens. Valer mi deu mos pretz e mos paratges e ma beutatz e plus mos fins coratges; per qu'eu vos man lai on es vostr' estatges esta chanson, que me sia messatges: e voill saber, lo meus bels amics gens, per que vos m'etz tant fers ni tant salvatges; no sai si s'es orgoills o mal talens. Mais aitan plus voill li digas, messatges, qu'en trop d'orgoill an gran dan maintas gens.

[@Bronwen-c8c]

Sad and beautiful.

[@abbieamavi]

*the drone makes it even more ominous, i like it!* some great monophonic blues tunes if you will!

[@neilwalsh3977]

The pedal point, countepoint, organum, the fugue, the long line, already present back in those ''dark'' days.

[@martinsfkewjroj4420]

1. A chantar m'er de so qu'eu no volria, tant me rancur de lui cui sui amia; car eu l'am mais que nuilla ren que sia: vas lui no.m val merces ni cortezia ni ma beltatz ni mos pretz ni mos sens; c'atressi.m sui enganad' e trahia Com degr' esser, s'eu fos dezavinens. 2. D'aisso.m conort, car anc non fi faillensa, Amics, vas vos per nuilla captenenssa; ans vo am mais non fetz Seguis Valensa, e platz mi mout quez eu d'amar vos vensa, lo meus amics, car etz lo plus valens; mi faitz orgoil en digz et en parvensa, et si etz francs vas totas autras gens. 3. Meraveill me cum vostre cors s'orgoilla, amics, vas me, per qui'ai razon queu.m doilla; non es ges dreitz c'autr' amors vos mi toilla, per nuilla ren que.us diga ni acoilla. E membre vos cals fo.l comensamens de nostr'amor! Ja Dompnedeus non voilla qu'en ma colpa sia.l departimens. 4. Proeza grans, qu'el vostre cors s'aizina e lo rics pretz qu'avetz, m'en ataïna, c'una non sai, loindana ni vezina, si vol amar, vas vos no si' aclina; mas vos, amics, etz ben tant conoissens que ben devetz conoisser la plus fina; e membre vos de nostres partimens. 5. Valer mi deu mos pretz e mos paratges e ma beutatz e plus mos fins coratges; per qu'eu vos man lai on es vostr' estatges esta chanson, que me sia messatges: e voill saber, lo meus bels amics gens, per que vos m'etz tant fers ni tant salvatges; no sai si s'es orgoills o mal talens. 6. Mais aitan plus voill li digas, messatges, qu'en trop d'orgoill an gran dan maintas gens.

[@KozmicKarmaKoala]

GRÁCIES !!

[@mayainactiveemail3986]

do you have a translation ? thank you. merci

[@processfailed]

Are there linguistic connections to Germanic languages and Latin as well as French? (More than other European languages) or is it just due to the time period that I can hear the other linguistic connections?

[@spacemanapeinc7202]

@@processfailed It maybe due to the fact the Singer may not actually be a native romance speaker, so thats why you hear something that sounds like German. For instance the person who rehearsed this song (not the one who composed it), may actually be a Speaker of a Germanic language like English or Low German and their accent may be getting in the way. I don't like this rehersal either because some of the words here sound somewhat non-rhotic which pisses me off, which tells me that this person could possibly be Southern English.

[@mwnyc3976]

@Processfailed Occitan (also known as Provencal) is definitely a Latin language, though it's not really much more closely related to French than to, say, (Castilian) Spanish. The well-known modern language to which it's closest is probably Catalan.

[@Konte1]

Je chanterai Chanson d'amour (Français) Je chanterai ce dont je n'aurais pas voulu [chanter]; Tant je me plains de celui dont je suis l'amie, Car je l'aime plus que toute chose : Auprès de lui ne me valent pitié ni courtoisie, Ni ma beauté ni ma valeur, ni mon esprit ; Car ainsi je suis trompée et trahie Comme je le devrais l'être si j'étais déplaisante. De cela je me console, car jamais je ne faillis envers vous, Ami, en aucune manière. Au contraire, je vous aime plus que Seguin n'aima Valence* Et il me plait fort que je vous surpasse en amour, Mon ami, car vous êtes le plus valeureux ; Envers moi vous faites l'orgueilleux en paroles et conduite, Et vous êtes affable envers les autres gens. Je m'étonne [de voir] comme votre cœur se montre orgueilleux Envers moi, ami, et j'ai des raisons d'en souffrir ; Il n'est pas juste qu'un autre amour vous prenne à moi Pour nulle chose qu'elle vous dise ou permette. Et rappelez-vous quel fut le commencement De notre amour ! Que jamais le Seigneur Dieu ne veuille Que la séparation soit de ma faute. La grande bonté qui demeure en votre cœur Et le riche prix que vous avez, m'inquiètent, Car je n'en connais aucune, lointaine ni voisine, Si elle veut aimer, vers vous ne s'incline ; Mais vous, ami, vous êtes si bien expert Que vous devez bien connaitre la plus parfaite ; Et vous rappeler nos accords. À mon mérite doivent servir mon prix et ma naissance Et ma beauté et mon plus parfait courage, C'est pourquoi je vous envoie en votre demeure, Cette chanson, pour qu'elle soit mon messager : Et je veux savoir, mon bel et doux ami, Pourquoi vous êtes si cruel et si farouche envers moi ; Je ne sais si c'est de l'orgueil ou de la mauvaise intention. Mais je veux que tu lui dises, messager, Que trop d'orgueil nuit à maintes gens.

[@ygorcoelhos]

What a wonderful song! It's interesting that much of the text is easily recognizable to a speak of contemporary Portuguese (a relatively conservative language after the Middle Ages) like myself.

[@ABAlphaBeta]

And during

[@hallerd]

That is very interesting.

[@Dwazedas]

No, that's not interesting at all.

[@emmetfahy9151]

Yes it sounds Portuguese! To an Irish man!

[@Bronze_Age_Sea_Person]

O interessante é que ambos o galego-português e a língua ocitana eram as mais usadas pelos trovadores.Mas os croissants fizeram de tudo pra prejudicar essa língua,que era falada por grande parte da população francesa no passado. BTW,Ygor is completely right when he tells Portuguese is a conservative language after the Middle ages.Unlike middle-english for modern english people,medieval portuguese(Galego-Português) is completely intelligible for portuguese people.Even texts as old as from 7th century,when portuguese was not much different from vulgar latin,can be read by a modern speaker,and yet,people don't read anything,at least here in Brazil,it's a shame!

[@Ody.s.sey1]

Best version I’ve heard

[@MedievalRichard]

Splendid.

[@d0m574]

Yennefer?

[@iammattkent]

such a bop

[@09saraiva]

Vim pelo curso de ópera da professora Sandra!

[@markhaffenden3930]

Very moving

[@suzananina8391]

That was "Enchanting " 💋

[@enriquepascual8767]

Muy bonito

[@alphaarles112]

1205-1244 la fleur de l'occident fauchée et piétinée par les Barons du Nord... ce qui aurait pu être une Renaissance un siècle plus tot...

[@loubecarut2192]

Un siècle? Non, mais TROIS siècles, oui !

[@awood817]

Anyone know the source of the image?

[@esclarmonde117]

I think that the best version is by Montserrat Figueras with Hesperion XX.

[@arawnqlord]

So deep

[@duartesilva7907]

Were the original troubadour songs as slow as this one?

[@class87srule]

Is this the 'correct' spelling of 'Aquitaine' or of the people? Never been clear to me.

[@alexk7973]

the Aquitaine is a region in France. Occitan is a language that widely spread in southern France, northern Iberia and northern Italy during the middle ages. It was the language of the troubadours. It has been in decline ever since the Albigensian Crusade ended southern French independence and was almost extinct, but there are endeavors to revive it. The name Occitan comes from the word òc meaning yes. It is opposed to the word oïl, which meant yes in Old French, which was spoken in the Northern part of France and a completely different language. The name Aquitaine is a lot older than the Occitan language, as the Romans already called the area Gallia Aquitania.

[@Gatolate-io1vh]

Te la voy A Chantar

[@MiserableLittleDoomGoblin]

Excellent interpretation! I am curious about the drone--what was used to create it? It sounds hurdy gurdy-like to me as I think I'm hearing sympathetic vibrations. And is there some harp in there as well?

[@FBony]

Per la lenga occitana

[@zicada7661]

Comtessa ? Does that mean she was considered a noble ?

[@darksuicune1]

The composer of the song was a noblewoman, but it was commonly sung by traveling bards

[@raphaelbarcellos5677]

Yes. Maybe Beatriz.

[@edwardhanson3664]

Countess

[@meanswithoutend]

What is the source of this version with the drone?

[@darksuicune1]

meanswithoutend the vocals are Catherine Bott, the drone created by Matthew Morrey. The combination is my own

[@gabrielegagliardi3956]

@@darksuicune1 the drone fits perfectly, It Sounds like a monody

[@loubecarut2192]

Superbe. Mais la prononciation occitane est particulière, par exemple "o" se lit comme le "ou" français, le "u" espagnol ou italien, ou mieux encore comme le "o" de "to" en anglais? Sans compter que l'occitan est une langue accentuée, comme l'espagnol, l'italien,n l'anglais, au contraire du français.Reste aussi la prononciation des finales, qui est très délicate, difficile. Les diphtongues aussi posent problème, là aussi il y a un accent tonique. Enfin "nha" et "lha" se prononcent "nia" et "ia". Évidement tout cela contribue au son de la poésie, du chant. Il est vrai que 8 siècles de guerre contre l'Occitanie et l'Occitan laissent de traces. C'est la langue de ma mère...cela aurait du être celle de mes petits enfants.

[@yuivi4848]

Module ano to 😭

[@gugoop6918]

Sounds sad

[@Dibipable]

Des français sont là ? Des occitans (Non indépendantistes. Je suis marseillais de Marseille) sont là ? Arrêtez de parler en anglais quand il s’agit de notre patrimoine ! Ça suffit le formatage !… ⚜️France

[@hearts4melaniemartini]

people actually like this music? like they listen to it for fun?? today???

[@matkorsky4149]

Yes, dude

[@E.C.2]

Chill out time,relaxing or at night,especially after stressful days,lights out, candles,etc Tis good for the Soul.

[@StopFear]

What a horrible time to live in