TROVADORISMO | A Sofrência da Idade Média

Summary

Trovadorismo, the first European literary movement, emerged in the Middle Ages, blending poetry with music. It flourished during the dominance of the Catholic Church in Europe and was characterized by cantigas—songs that conveyed themes of love, longing, and satire. The movement, which spread from Southern France to Portugal, featured poets like Paio Soares de Taveirós and King Dom Dinis, who both contributed to its legacy. Cantigas were composed for both the aristocracy and the common folk, often performed by musicians and reciters called menestreis. Trovadorismo's impact persists in the literary and musical traditions of Europe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Trovadorismo is considered the first European literary movement, combining poetry, music, and a lot of suffering.
• 😀 The movement emerged during the medieval period, specifically between the 10th and 12th centuries, and was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church.
• 😀 Only the clergy were literate during this time, so poetry was written to be sung with instruments like the flute, lute, and viola, making it accessible to a wider audience.
• 😀 The songs were performed for both nobles in the courts and common people in public places like medieval markets.
• 😀 The author of the poems was known as a 'trovador,' and there were also other figures like 'jograis' (reciters) and 'menestréis' (minstrels), who performed the songs with instruments.
• 😀 Cantigas, the songs written during the trovadorismo, were compiled in documents called 'cancioneiros,' which are collections of these poetic works.
• 😀 Cantigas were categorized into lyrical (love and friend) and satirical (mockery and criticism) themes.
• 😀 In cantigas de amor (songs of love), the poetic voice is male, expressing the suffering of unrequited love, while in cantigas de amigo (songs of a friend), the voice is female, focusing on longing for a loved one.
• 😀 The satirical cantigas, including cantigas de escárnio (mockery) and cantigas de maldizer (direct insults), criticized social issues of the time with either indirect or direct language.
• 😀 Trovadorismo began in the south of France and spread throughout Europe, with important figures in Portugal like Paio Soares de Taveirós, who wrote the earliest known cantiga in Portuguese.
• 😀 The movement declined by the 13th century with the rise of the humanist movement but left a significant legacy in the form of manuscripts and a lasting cultural impact.

Q & A

What is the trovadorismo movement, and when did it occur?

Trovadorismo is considered the first European literary movement, combining poetry, music, and emotional expression. It emerged during the Middle Ages, specifically between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Why was the Church significant to the development of trovadorismo?

During the medieval period, the Catholic Church was the dominant institution in Europe, dictating social rules and values. Its influence shaped the educational system, with only the clergy being literate. As a result, poetry was performed orally and accompanied by music to reach the masses.

How were the poems of the trovadorismo movement shared with the people?

Since most people were illiterate, the poems were set to music and performed in public places like markets. They were sung with instruments such as flutes, lutes, and violas to make them accessible and memorable.

What were the different roles in the performance of trovadorismo poetry?

The poet, known as the trovador, wrote the poems, while the jogral recited them. The menestrel was a more skilled performer who not only recited the poetry but also played musical instruments, making them superior to the jogral.

What are 'cancioneiros,' and what do they contain?

Cancioneiros are collections of manuscripts that gather various trovadorismo poems. They were compiled into books containing cantigas, and these poems were categorized by themes, such as love, friendship, satire, and mockery.

What are the primary types of cantigas in trovadorismo?

The cantigas were mainly divided into two types: lyrical cantigas (including cantigas de amor and cantigas de amigo), which explored personal emotions, and satirical cantigas (including cantigas de escárnio and cantigas de maldizer), which critiqued social issues and individuals.

What is the difference between cantigas de amor and cantigas de amigo?

Cantigas de amor typically have a male speaker expressing the pain of unrequited love, while cantigas de amigo have a female voice lamenting the absence of her beloved, often focusing on feelings of longing and sadness.

What role did King Dom Dinis play in the trovadorismo movement?

King Dom Dinis was a major supporter of trovadorismo. He was not only a king but also one of the most talented trovadores of the era, composing over 140 cantigas, both lyrical and satirical.

What marked the decline of trovadorismo in the 13th century?

Trovadorismo began to decline in the 13th century when it was overshadowed by the Humanism movement, which focused more on reason, philosophy, and the arts rather than poetic expression dominated by the Church.

What legacy did the trovadorismo movement leave behind?

Trovadorismo's legacy includes the preservation of thousands of poetic manuscripts, known as the cancioneiros, which are kept in libraries such as those in Lisbon and the Vatican. The movement also demonstrated the power of music and poetry in transcending barriers and influencing future generations.