The composition Music of the Troubadours, Tant m’abelis consists of the instrumental accompaniment of mandolin or zither and female vocals. The instrument’s mood is major, calm, lyrical; the vocals are passionate, the tempo is average, but it accelerates from time to time (Lafitte, 2009). The troubadours’ audience was the inhabitants of castles, wives of lords, wealthy patron nobles, rulers of states, and festival visitors. The music’s purpose was to entertain listeners and tell a personal story since the troubadours were poets and composers. Energetic and expressive vocals are lovely, but the musical accompaniment could be more enjoyable. The song is sung in Occitan language, which was widespread in the regions of Provence and Andalusia and was a mixture of Spanish, Italian, and Old French. Some troubadours from the lower classes who received musical education in monasteries used Latin. This music piece is pleasant to listen to; it inspires a romantic mood and creates a feeling of involvement in past events.
Walther von der Vogelweide: Palästinalied “Song of Palestine” (Minnesinger song) is an instrumental piece. The instruments are flute, drums, and bagpipe; the mood is major; the tempo is average. This song’s audience could be the inhabitants of the castle; it could be performed during a knightly tournament since this piece aims to entertain the audience and create a mood corresponding to the contest. In this song, I liked the melody and rhythm of the sound. However, the sound of the bagpipes was somewhat mournful and empty. One can listen to this melody in the morning or the afternoon and think about the upcoming business.
The mood of Trouvères: Gace Brulé: A la douçor de la bele seson is a lyrical and minor song. It consists of male vocals and masterful string accompaniment. The audience of this song could be the inhabitants of the castle. The purpose could be to evoke sympathy from the audience since the performer sings about his exile and separation from his beloved woman. In this song, I liked the vocals, the lyrics, and the soft sound of the string instrument. One can listen to this song in the evening, sitting by the fireplace and reflecting on the vicissitudes of fate.
Reference
Lafitte, M. (2009). Music of the troubadours – Tant m’abelis [Video file]. Web.