Description
Arrangement of the introduction to the old trouvère song (Chantefable d’Aucassin et Nicholete), with an additional tune for the central sections.
It is a jolly piece to brighten your day and a suitable song to start a troubadour or trouvère concert or a staged medieval reconstruction, among various other events.
The final few bars illustrate the conclusion that it is a sweet song (Tant par est douce).
Qui vauroit bons vers oir
del deport du viel antif
De deux biaux enfans petis Nicholete et Aucassins
Des grans paines qu’il soufrit et des prouesses qu’il fit
por s’amie o’l clair vis
Dos est li cans biaus li dis et cortois et bien asis
Nus hom n’est si esbahis tant dolans ni entrepris de grant mal amaladis
se il oit ne soit garis et de joie resbaudis
tant par est douce…..
[my English singing translation]
Who will hear a fine old song
’tis an ancient tale I sing
Of two young folk who could
do no wrong
Nicolette and Aucassin
Of the sufferings he would embrace,
his acts were noble full of grace
for his lover fair of face.
Sweet the song and full of renown courtly gentle as I sing
No man can be so cast down
taken up with suffering sore with heavy sorrows and pain
that if he hears it he’ll refrain
and be joyful once again
so pretty and sweet the song is…..