Bernart de Ventadorn facts for kids
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Bernart de Ventadorn (also known as Bernard de Ventadour) was a famous French poet and musician. He lived a long time ago, from about 1130–1140 to 1190–1200. Bernart was a troubadour, which means he was a poet-composer who wrote and sang songs, often about love. He is thought to be one of the most important troubadours from his time.
Bernart wrote 45 poems, and the music for 18 of them still exists today. This is more than any other troubadour from the 1100s! He was well-known for his special way of writing songs called trobar leu. His many songs, called cançons, helped shape the style of courtly love poetry. This style was copied by many other poets for a long time. People today often call him "the Master Singer" because of his skill.
Who was Bernart de Ventadorn?
According to an old writer named Uc de Saint Circ, Bernart might have been the son of a baker. This baker worked at the Ventadour castle in France. Another old poem suggests his parents were servants, soldiers, or bakers.
Bernart probably learned how to sing and write from his protector, Viscount Eble III of Ventadorn. He wrote his first poems for the Viscount's wife, Marguerite de Turenne.
Bernart's Journeys
Bernart had to leave Ventadour after he fell in love with Marguerite. He traveled to different places like Montluçon and Toulouse. Later, he went with Eleanor of Aquitaine to England. She was a very powerful queen. We know about these travels mostly from his own poems.
After his time in England, Bernart came back to Toulouse. There, he worked for Raimon V, who was the Count of Toulouse. Later in his life, he went to a place called Dordogne and joined a monastery. It is believed that he died there.
Bernart's Famous Works
Bernart is special because so much of his music has survived. Out of his 45 poems, we still have the music for 18 of them. This is very rare for a troubadour from the 1100s. His works were likely created between 1147 and 1180.
Bernart had a big impact on music in northern France. His songs were very popular and spread widely. Many early composers in that area copied his style. His influence even reached Latin literature. In 1215, a professor named Boncompagno wrote that Bernart was famous for his beautiful songs and sweet melodies.
See also
In Spanish: Bernart de Ventadorn para niños
