Blacasset

Blacasset, Blacassetz, Blacssetz, or Blachessetz (fl. 1233–1242[1]) was a Provençal troubadour of the noble family of the Blacas, lords of Aulps, in the Empire. He was probably a son of the troubadour Blacatz, as his vida alleges, though this has come into doubt.[1][2] He was also distantly related to Charles I of Naples and Raymond Berengar IV of Provence.[2] According to his vida, he was like his father in merit, good deeds, and munificence, and also reputed to be a good lover.[2]

En blancassetz si fo fills denblancatz q' fon meillor gentil hom de proenza. . .
Sir Blacasset was the son of Sir Blacatz, who was the greatest gentleman in Provence. . ."

"Blacasset" is a diminutive of his father's name (Latin: Blacacius). A document of 1238 (two years after his father's death) mentions three sons of the elder Blacatz, two of which were named Blacacius.[1] Blacasset was not a professional troubadour, but, like his father, an amateur.[1] Eleven of his works survive, three sirventes, four cansos, and four coblas, including one single-stanza canso with a melody in F major, Ben volgra quem venques merces.[1] This song was appended to a manuscript of the chansonnier du roi of Theobald I of Navarre in the early fourteenth-century.[3] Among his other works are:

  • A Lunel lutz una luna luzens, a tenso with Guilhem de Montanhagol in the trobar clus style about a lady, Guiza (Gauzeranda) de Lunel
  • Lo bels douz temps mi platz, a sirventes he wrote for the conte de Proensa (count of Provence)[4]
  • De guerra fi desiros[4]
  • Mos voler es quez eu m' eslanz[4]

Sources
  • Aubrey, Elizabeth. The Music of the Troubadours. Indiana University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-253-21389-4.
  • Bertoni, G. "Il complemento del conzoniere provenzale di Bernart Amoros." Giornale storico della letteratura italiana, 34 (1899) pp. 118–140.
  • Egan, Margarita, ed. and trans. The Vidas of the Troubadours. New York: Garland, 1984. ISBN 0-8240-9437-9.

Notes
  1. Aubrey, 23.
  2. Egan, 23.
  3. Aubrey, 232. This is known as troubadour manuscript W or trouvère manuscript M.
  4. Bertoni, 128. Found in the chansonnier of Bernart Amoros.
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