Join us at Macaulay Church on September 4th from 6-8pm for an evening of Medieval Music performed by Montreal-based Ensemble COMTESSA. Featuring musicians Isabelle Douailly-Backman, Len Torrie and Maria Gajraj. Admission is by donation. Suggested donation $20.

Rose and Flame Concert
Desire in the Courts from the Troubadours to Machaut

Love and desire lie at the heart of the music and poetry of the troubadours (Occitan), trouvères (Old French), and Minnesaenger (German). These medieval poet-musicians crafted refined and often idealized expression of love, intertwining passion with feudal and religious imagery. Their songs were primarily monophonic, allowing the poetic text to take center stage. The interplay between words and melody was essential – intricate verse forms and melodic contours deepened the emotional resonance of their works. Guillaume de Machaut later expanded and refined these traditions, becoming the master of courtly love in both poetry and music. Though known for his innovations in polyphony, his monophonic works – such as the lay Pour ce qu’on puit – retain the intimacy and emotional intensity of earlier traditions.

This program traces the monophonic legacy of of fin’amor courtois (courtly love) and desire from 11th to 14th centuries, spanning Occitane, France, and Germany. Through these timeless melodies and evocative texts, we explore the enduring legacy of medieval love poetry and its profound union with music.

Musicians:

Len Torrie : soprano
Maria Gajraj : organetto
Isabelle Douailly-Backman : direction, vielle