Special Archival--Music of Provence
About Provence and Provencal Music: Southeastern France or Provence is a former Roman province, located on the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent to the Italian border. Provence is bordered by the Alps and Italy to the east, the Rhone River to the west and the Mediterranean Sea provides the southern border. The principality of Monaco, Nice, Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Arles are all important Provençal cities. Occitan is the language historically spoken in Provence and the Occitan regions of France, although the language has been losing its prominence. The language is also spoken in parts of Spain, Italy (Piedmont), Germany and even the U.S (Idaho and Oregon). The famed medieval troubadours penned their poetry and sung their verses in Occitan, which is a Latin Romance language. The troubadours draw comparisons to the West African griot or the Irish bards. They not only sung love songs, they also traveled on trade routes bring...
