PROFANE MUSIC IN COURTS

In the medieval Europe gradually Romance languages, derived form Latin, became popular. In particular the langue d'Oc spread in France (in the South), and the langue d'Oil (in the North).

Modern French derives from the second, but the first was more important for the music and the poetry of the time. It spread by trouviers, authors and performers of songs inspired to knightly ideals and centred on the love for the woman. In the North of France the troubadours’s style  was picked up by trouveres in the langue d'Oil. With them the artistic character of this music was reinforced.

The music of troubadours and trouveres was monodic to be performed easily with the instruments used. Troubadours and trouveres had imitators and followers in Italy and Germany; unlike minstrels, who were only performers of songs and contributed very much to spread these forms of music in the European courts.