Guerau III de Cabrera
Encyclopedia
Guerau III de Cabrera also called Guiraut (or Giraut) de Cabreira, was a Catalan
nobleman and Occitan troubadour
. He was the viscount of Àger and Cabrera from 1145.
Guerau is today most famous for his ensenhamen
, a long didactic poem written for his jongleur, Cabra. Cabra's name, which means goat and is related to the name of his master's viscounty (Cabrera), probably indicates that he was Guerau's herald
, since heralds often took the names of the arms
of their lords. Guerau's arms bore a goat.
The ensenhamen is divided into 216 lines. The rhyme scheme
is of two four-syllable rhyming lines followed by an octosyllabic line ending in -on, repeated. The entire poem is basically a disorderly and wordy catalogue the things (names, songs, and stories) which Cabra ought to know in his capacity as public entertainer, but which in fact he does not know. The eruditeness of the work is impressive, giving evidence of Guerau's learning, the writings he would have had access to in twelfth-century Catalonia, and the typical repertoire of a contemporary jongleur.
The ensenhamen begins with twenty-four lines of criticism concerning what Cabra does not do. He is accused of mal saps viular / e pietz chantar: poor knowledge of how to play the viol
and worse still of singing. He cannot finish with a proper "Breton
cadence
" (tempradura de breton). Guerau goes on:
Finally, Guerau lists the various genres and types of song which Cabra does not have in his repertoire: sirventesc, balaresc, estribot, retroencha, and contenson
. It is clear that by Guerau's time, Occitan lyric poetry had already witnessed a proliferation of genres. To the historian of culture, these twenty-four lines are an important source for the qualifications of a good jongleur.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
nobleman and Occitan troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
. He was the viscount of Àger and Cabrera from 1145.
Guerau is today most famous for his ensenhamen
Ensenhamen
An ensenhamen was an Occitan didactic poem associated with the troubadours. As a genre of Occitan literature, its limits have been open to debate since it was first defined in the 19th century...
, a long didactic poem written for his jongleur, Cabra. Cabra's name, which means goat and is related to the name of his master's viscounty (Cabrera), probably indicates that he was Guerau's herald
Herald
A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
, since heralds often took the names of the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of their lords. Guerau's arms bore a goat.
The ensenhamen is divided into 216 lines. The rhyme scheme
Rhyme scheme
A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyme between lines of a poem or song. It is usually referred to by using letters to indicate which lines rhyme. In other words, it is the pattern of end rhymes or lines...
is of two four-syllable rhyming lines followed by an octosyllabic line ending in -on, repeated. The entire poem is basically a disorderly and wordy catalogue the things (names, songs, and stories) which Cabra ought to know in his capacity as public entertainer, but which in fact he does not know. The eruditeness of the work is impressive, giving evidence of Guerau's learning, the writings he would have had access to in twelfth-century Catalonia, and the typical repertoire of a contemporary jongleur.
The ensenhamen begins with twenty-four lines of criticism concerning what Cabra does not do. He is accused of mal saps viular / e pietz chantar: poor knowledge of how to play the viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
and worse still of singing. He cannot finish with a proper "Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
cadence
Cadence (music)
In Western musical theory, a cadence is, "a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of repose or resolution [finality or pause]." A harmonic cadence is a progression of two chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music...
" (tempradura de breton). Guerau goes on:
|
|
Finally, Guerau lists the various genres and types of song which Cabra does not have in his repertoire: sirventesc, balaresc, estribot, retroencha, and contenson
Tenso
A tenso is a style of Occitan song favoured by the troubadours. It takes the form of a debate in which each voice defends a position on a topic relating to love or ethics. Closely related genres include the partimen and the cobla exchange...
. It is clear that by Guerau's time, Occitan lyric poetry had already witnessed a proliferation of genres. To the historian of culture, these twenty-four lines are an important source for the qualifications of a good jongleur.