I’m currently undertaking NanoWriMo November – aiming to write 50,000 words of my new novel about a female troubadour (or trobairitz). NanoWriMo asked for a playlist for my novel so here it is:

The working title for my novel, A Morsel of Love’s Bread, is taken from a line in the troubadour poem, ‘Ab la dolchor del temps novel’ (‘In the sweetness of this new season’) by Guillaume IX Duke of Aquitaine, who is one of the characters in my novel. The full phrase in the poem is ‘A morsel of love’s bread, and its knife’.

The following playlist includes a performance of ‘Ab la dolchor’, two performances of a trobairitz (female troubadour) poem and a selection of troubadour songs. My protagonist is a trobairitz named Beatriz. These videos also show Beatriz’s instrument, the vielle, and other medieval instruments and female singers in action.

Beatriz, Countess of Dia, ‘A chantar m’er de so qu’eu no volria’ (‘Of things I’d rather keep in silence I must sing’) performed by Galdra, 8.25 mins

Guillaume Duke of Aquitaine, ‘Ab la dolchor del temps novel’ (‘In the sweetness of this new season’) performed by Hamid Khezri & Caroline Dufau, 3.54 mins

Songs of the Troubadours performed by Ensemble Celadon, 5.17 mins.

Beatriz, Countess of Dia, ‘A chantar m’er de so qu’eu no volria’ (‘Of things I’d rather keep in silence I must sing’) performed by Jordi Savall,  8.24 mins