A Medieval Songbook: Trouvere MS C

The Bern Chansonnier is a medieval songbook from 13th-century France that contains the texts to over 500 Old French songs. It is a unique insight into the cultures of song-making and copying on the linguistic and political borders between French and German-speaking lands. This collection of essays is the first to consider the manuscript from a range of disciplinary perspectives, examining the process of creating the complex object, the scribes and artists who worked on it, and the peculiarly Messine flavour of the repertoire and authors. It demonstrates how poet-composers, readers, and scribes interacted with the courtly song tradition in fascinating and unusual ways.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The medieval songbook known variously as trouvère manuscript C or the Bern Chansonnier (Bern,Burgerbibliothek,Cod. 389) stands as a remarkable testament to the musical life of thirteenth-century France. Almost certainly copied in Metz, this invaluable manuscript offers the texts to over five hundred Old French songs, providing a unique window into the cultures of song-making and copying that flourished on the linguistic and political borders between French and German-speaking lands in the Middle Ages. Notably, the margins of the manuscript contain the names of trouvères, including several female poet-musicians, whose contributions would be unknown today without this evidence. However, despite its significance, the manuscript has received relatively limited scholarly attention, partly due to the enigmatic absence of musical notation in the songs, and partly due to its location in the Bern Museum.

In this collection of essays, scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds come together to explore C on its own terms and from a range of perspectives. Philologists delve into the linguistic intricacies of the texts, art historians examine the manuscript's artistic features, literary scholars analyze the literary influences and themes present in the songs, and musicologists examine the musical aspects of the repertoire. The contributors also examine the peculiar Messine flavour of the repertoire and authors, highlighting how C offers a unique perspective on the tradition of Old French song.

Through their detailed exploration, the contributors demonstrate how poet-composers, readers, and scribes in this eastern hub of music and poetry interacted with the courtly song tradition in fascinating and unusual ways. The manuscript's rich content and the insights it provides into the musical and cultural practices of the thirteenth century make it a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

In conclusion, the trouvère manuscript C, also known as the Bern Chansonnier, is a remarkable testament to the musical life of thirteenth-century France. Its unique insights into the cultures of song-making and copying, as well as its distinctive Messine flavour, make it a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts of medieval music and literature. This collection of essays provides a comprehensive examination of the manuscript, shedding light on its creation, content, and significance in the broader context of medieval musical and cultural practices.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276523