Unusually for such an early composer, we have dates for Beatriz de Dia. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that she was fully titles Comtessa Beatriz de Dia. The records for the rich in these by gone days being so much more complete.
The Countess was born in Dia, a small town near Montelimar in the Rhone valley.
Beatriz wrote and sang in the Occitan troubadour tradition. Courtly love features as you might expect but then less expectedly betrayal and some degree of self appraisal too.
The unusual subject matter was perhaps not unconnected to the fact that she spent much of her life in a love triangle with husband William of Poitiers and near neighbour Raimbaut the Lord of Orange (the ultimate source for where Northern Ireland’s Orangemen get their name from).
This especially haunting song is performed by Catherine Bott. Translated loosely as “I must sing a song I'd rather not” discusses the plight of the betrayed lover. It is the only one of her surviving works for which both music and lyrics have survived.
Listening to this over breakfast in Lisbon! Maestro- your erudition is a joy and a special bonus for our appreciation of your choices. This 12C piece was beautiful and beautifully sung …