Raoul de Ferrières

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Raoul de Ferrières (fl. 1200–10), originally de Ferier, was a Norman nobleman and trouvère. He was born in Ferrières in what is today the département of Eure. A total of eleven chansons courtoises have been attributed to him.

In 1209, Raoul was mentioned in a donation to the .

The most famous of Raoul's songs is unquestionably Quant li rossignols jolis ("When the pretty nightingales"), which is probably the song Johannes de Grocheo (c.1300) describes as a cantus coronatus (crowned, meaning probably that it had received a prize in a competition). Unfortunately, this song is ascribed to the Chastelain de Couci in another manuscript. It was used as a model for the anonymous L'autrier m'iere rendormis. Musically, it starts at the upper octave, flows downwards, and establishes a centre on d.

All of Raoul's melodies, including Quant li rossignols, were recorded in bar form, save two readings Si sui du tout a fine Amour (possibly later revisions). None are recorded in mensural notation. Most of the melodies are in the D modes (authentic and plagal), but three are in the authentic G mode. Poetically, all but one of Raoul's compositions use the ABABBAAB rhyme scheme and all of his works are also octosyllabic, with the exceptions of Quant ivers a tel poissance and Quant li rossignols and the mixed octo- and heptasyllabic verses of the disputed Quant il ne pert fueille ne flours.

List of songs[]

Assigned works[]

  • Encore m'estuet il chanter
  • Par force chant conme esbahis
  • Quant ivers a tel poissance
  • Quant je voi les vergiers florir
  • Se j'ai chanté, ce poise moi
  • Si sui du tout a fine Amour
  • Une haute amour qui esprent

Doubtful works[]

  • J'ai oublié paine et travaus
  • On ne peut pas a deus seigneurs servir
  • Quant li rossignols jolis
  • Quant il ne pert fueille ne flours

References[]


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