In preparation for the Oxford Trobadors concert for the Oxford Proms on 12th August, I have been working on Jaufre Rudel's lovely poem and song Quan lo riu de la fontana (When the water of the fountain). It is one of the medieval Occitan troubadours pieces in our repertoire . So many of the songs of the troubadours tell of the pain of an unattainable love, a love far away, or amors de lonhdana. Amors de terra lonhdana Those I love in a far off land Per vos totz lo cors mi dol for you all my body aches E n'on puec trobar meizina and I cannot find the remedy. A ccording to legend Jaufre Rudel was inspired to go on a crusade after hearing of the beauty of Countess Hodierna of Tripoli. She was his amor de lonhdana . Sadly he fell ill on the journey and was brought ashore in Tripoli a dying man. Countess Hodierna is said to have come down from her castle on hearing the...
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