A 12th-century troubadour song reimagined through Haitian Creole and Occitan
In short: Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant breathes new life into a medieval composition by Almucs de Castelnau. Recorded within the Unicorn Tapestries Room at The Met Cloisters, this performance bridges centuries by blending ancient Occitan lyrics with a modern Haitian Creole translation.
The performance features Salvant alongside harpsichordist Sullivan Fortner, drawing inspiration from the legendary Unicorn Tapestries. The centerpiece, 'Dame Iseut,' reimagines the work of a 12th-century trobairitz—a female troubadour from the South of France. These women were the earliest known composers of Western secular music, typically performing for noble courts.
Salvant, who is also a textile artist, incorporates a translation by her father, Alix Salvant, into the performance. By singing in both the original Occitan—a language now considered severely endangered—and Haitian Creole, the artist connects the mythological grandeur of the tapestries with themes of ethereal and corporeal love.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Cécile McLorin Salvant at The Met Cloisters: Dame Iseut | MetLiveArts
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