Trouvere

Trouvère is a medieval music genre that flourished in Northern France during the 12th and 13th centuries, characterized by its lyrical poetry set to music. Emerging in the wake of the troubadour tradition from the south, trouvère compositions often revolved around courtly love, chivalric tales, and moral themes. Written in Old French, these songs were performed by nobles and poet-musicians for aristocratic audiences. The melodies were usually monophonic, reflecting a graceful yet intricate melodic style. Notables like Conon de Béthune and Thibaut de Champagne elevated the form, combining skilled poetic craftsmanship with evocative storytelling, influencing both medieval culture and modern perceptions of romance in music.