LA QUÊTE OCCITANE!
In collaboration with Bourgie Hall, the 2022 edition of Medieval Music Days focused on one of the first
and most influential secular literary-musical
movements of the European Middle Ages. The troubadours,
including their female counterparts the trobairitz, who
flourished from the early 12th to the early 13th centuries in what is today Southern France,
but which at the time was a separate land with its own vibrant and distinctive culture known as Occitania.
OCTOBER 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24
WESTMOUNT PARK UNITED CHURCH/BOURGIE HALL
Unfolding of the event
Wednesday October 19, 5:30 PM:
Conference at Bourgie Hall (in French) by musicologist Dujka Smoje: The lyrical poetry of the Troubadours
Friday October 21st, 8 PM:
Concert by Ensemble Reverdies Montréal: "Mots d'amour et maux croisés!" - Songs from Occitania
The troubadours refined the rules of romantic poetry for generations
thereafter. They called it fin amors, courtly love. The beloved was
described as perfect, but usually her or his love was unrequited, and
the resulting distress motivated the poet to sing. Poetry and music
also mixed with the politics of the time, as crusading culture took
hold of Europe. While the original focus of the crusades was Jerusalem,
by the early 13 th century, crusades were being launched against Christians
considered to be heretical. The most famous of these, the Albigensian Crusade,
heralded the end of the troubadour era as Occitania was captured by the French
and its culture was forced into decline. Reverdies Montréal presents a concert
highlighting the fervency of love, longing, and destruction that permeated the
lyrics of the troubadours.
Their culture left a legacy that lived long after Occitania’s downfall.
Saturday October 22nd, 9:30 AM to 5 PM:
Workshop for all with Reverdies Montréal.
Saturday October 22nd, 6 PM:
Concert by Ensemble Comtessa: "Dejosta'ls breus jorns e'ls lonc sers" - Lyrical songs
COMTESSA follows the many stages of love from joy to despair through the lovesick poems of the Troubadours, presented and sung by Gabrielle Cloutier. Intertwined with these love poems are instrumental interludes taken from 13th century French dances and estampies.
Sunday October 23rd, 2:30 PM (Bourgie Hall): Concert by Ensemble Diabolus in Musica:"Un nouveau printemps du monde troubadour songs and 12th century polyphony from Aquitaine
Monday October 24th, 10:00 AM: Masterclass with Diabolus in Musica; for professional musicians and music students
