MUSIC 9

LESSON 1 (continuation):
Secular Music of the
Medieval Period
Secular Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ6ykg0TYug&feature=youtu.be
 Not all musicians were regulated
by the church during the Medieval
period. There was secular music
known as court music that
became popular during the latter
part of the period.
• The TROUBADOURS were traveling
musicians who performed in different places
to entertain people with their music about
courtly love, chivalry, and romance.
Troubadours may either be noble people or
people with rank, or knights playing for
lords.
 The chanson and the canso were the songs of the
troubadours.
 A chanson is a French secular song during the
medieval period. It is a popular lyric-driven song
based on poems.
 A singer specializing in chanson is called
chansonnier.
 Meanwhile, canso is a troubadour’s formal love song.
 In contrast to sacred music, troubadours used
instruments, such as lute, and viols as
accompaniments.
 In Germany, troubadours were called minnesingers or
singer of love songs.
Adam de la Halle
 Adam de la Halle was one of the popular
composers of the medieval period.
 He was also known as Adam le Bossu
or Adam the Hunchback.
 He was a poet and musician, who was
also known for his chanson and poetic
debates (Jeux-partis).
 One of his famous works is the musical
play “Le Jeu de Robin et Marion”.
Born: 1245,
Arras, France

Died: 1285, 
Naples, Italy

Nationality: French
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNNm-wnfZ-U
“Le Jeu de Robin et Marion”, a troubadour song
by Adam de la Halle.