Can anyone here read medieval French?

[zanzibar]

I'm part of a group which is doing a performance of a medieval troubador song.  I haven't been able to find a proper English translation for the text.  Can anyone here help me out?

A lot of the hyphens don't belong linguistically..


C'est la fin, koi que nus di-e, j'aimerais
C'est la jus en mis les prés,
C'est la fins, je veul amer
Jus et baus i a le-ves, bele a-mie ai.
C'est la fin koi que nus di-e, j'aimerais.


I'm not singing it but it would still be good to know.

[LARAGORN]

Is this from a play book or an actual book?
Often when text is put into play books the are transcribed to aid the actor, and sometimes differ from original text.

[zanzibar]

It's a 14th century poem set to music.  The text is a virelai by Guillaume de Machaut (I think), but the composer of the music is anonymous.  I think that it could be a dance, and it is a troubadour song (maybe trouvere, I'd have to check), so I don't believe it would have been used in a play.



Edit:  I found a recording of it.  (It stops early)   http://cdbaby.com/cd/istanpitta  (track 10)

Keep in mind that this group has taken a lot of liberties with the score, but that's expected.  The only thing actually written down is the vocal line.



Edit x 2:  Hmm.  They're not modulating the key.  When I was fooling around with the tune, I was switching keys, but their lute player is just staying on D the whole time.  And the vocal line isn't being doubled by instruments, which is something I was expecting for us to do.  Options, options!




Edit x 3:  Here's an early attempt at playing it.  I need to practice.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=658240&songID=4954895

It sounds a lot better with reverb, but I'm not trying to make a good recording of it.  Just something I can show to the rest of the group before we get together again.

[Radiant Memphis]

I found what might be either similar or a modern version of it.
C'est la fin quoigue l'on die j'amerai
Cella guise en null pres
C'est la fin, je veux la vie
Gise beau si a le vie, belle ami
C'est la fin quoigue l'on die j'amerai
From here
At least it look and sounds to be similar to me. Which if translated sounds just as strange.
My french has always been horrid so who know these things. I'll keep an eye out for a good translation though.

By the way sounds like your doing pretty good with it.

[zanzibar]

By the way sounds like your doing pretty good with it.

Thanks.  Thanks for the other text as well.  I knew that Medieval Babes did a recording of it, but I didn't think to look for the lyrics.

[zanzibar]

We eventually found someone who could translate it.  I don't recall the translation word for word and I don't have it on hand, but it's something like this:

"This is the end.  I will always love, no matter what one says.  It is over there, in the meadows.  I have a beautiful friend.  This is the end.  I will always love, no matter what one says."

[Idoru]

kinda looks like something Dylan would have written

[zanzibar]

I made a quick and dirty recording of myself improvising on the tune.  For the record, our presentation was a hit.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=658240&songID=5147640

[bilbous]

Actually looks like something The Doors riffed on.

[zanzibar]

Really?  I think of the Doors as being more influenced by the Baroque period, especially Bach's organ music.  Medieval song is more in the realm of Black Sabbath and Zeppelin, even Opeth.  I'll listen for it next time I have a doors album playing though.

[bilbous]

The End Maybe not so much musically but lyrically.

[zanzibar]

ooooooh.  I'm not sure it's the same message though.

[bilbous]

Actually I think it probably is, as much as the poets and troubadours of yore (and some of them today) like to get all flowery I do not suppose sex has changed too much. The only real difference I see is how literal the terms used (or not) to talk about it. 

[zanzibar]

Actually I think it probably is, as much as the poets and troubadours of yore (and some of them today) like to get all flowery I do not suppose sex has changed too much. The only real difference I see is how literal the terms used (or not) to talk about it. 

Right, because every song about romance or sex has exactly the same message. 

[bilbous]

Well not if your song is about how much you love your mother, for example, but if it is about someone unrelated I'd say it was about getting some. It may be more or less abstracted from that but I think it comes down to how much you want it, how much you miss it or how it makes you feel when you get it. Feel free to disagree. Oh I just thought of another that might be sung by a certain type and that would be: I wish I knew what it was; and I guess another type might wish they didn't know.