Chanson no.2

Blondel de Nesle composed this twelfth century French trouvère song. The trouvères were the poet/composers of northern France who existed from the mid 1100's to 1300 and were supported by the aristocracy. They represent aristocratic music making, the creation and performance of music was part of the courtly tradition. The texts of these songs are a reflection of the society that created them, often revolving around idealized treatments of courtly love and religious devotion. Blondel de Nesle, who lived in the second half of the twelfth century, was an early lyric poet-musician, or trouvère, of northern France. Nothing is known about Blondel outside of his poetry. He was probably from Nesle, in Picardy, but the name Blondel may be a nickname, and it is uncertain how many of the 25 songs attributed to him are actually his.