Rose & Flame

Love and desire lie at the heart of the music and poetry of the troubadours (Occitan),

trouvères (Old French), and Minnesänger (German). These medieval poet-musicians crafted refined and often idealized expression of love, intertwining passion with feudal and religious imagery. Their songs were primarily monophonic, allowing the poetic text to take center stage. The interplay between words and melody was essential - intricate verse forms and melodic contours deepened the emotional resonance of their works. Guillaume de Machaut later expanded and refined these traditions, becoming the master of courtly love in both poetry and music. Though known for his innovations in polyphony, his monophonic works - such as the lay Pour ce qu’on puit - retain the intimacy and emotional intensity of earlier traditions.

This program traces the monophonic legacy of of fin’amor courtois (courtly love) and desire from 11th to 14th centuries, spanning Occitane, France, and Germany. Through these timeless melodies and evocative texts, we explore the enduring legacy of medieval love poetry and its profound union with music.

Musicians:

Len Torrie : soprano

Maria Gajraj : organetto

Isabelle Douailly-Backman : direction, vielle

Program notes here

Texts/translations here