Le canzoni di Guilhem Ademar. Edizione critica, commento e traduzione

Description

The activity of the troubadour Guilhem Ademar covers the years 1190-1220, period which coincides for two thirds with what is usually defined the golden age of provençal poetry (1180-1210). As we can infer from the reading of the satirical collection written by the Monk of Montaudon around 1192, Guilhem was supposed to be a leading figure of the age, since his name appears among prominent authors such Arnaut Daniel, Peire Vidal, Gaucelm Faidit and Folquet de Marselha. The poems of this troubadour, which are worth reading, were published in 1951 by the Swedish scholar Kurt Almqvist. The monographic study done with accuracy is nevertheless spoiled by the choice not always convincing of a basic manuscript which at various times coincides with Latin Vatican 5232 (A), codex whose clearness is often due to the filling and innovative activity of its copyist. To an edition influenced by Bédier’s method I oppose an edition written according to Lachmann’s theory based on varia lectio. Kurt Almqvist offers an interpretative translation which leaves space to doubts. I propose instead a literal translation with the aim of understanding the original text. Besides in the 1951 study in the commentary notes, references and comparisons with other contemporary poets are missing. This limit does not show one of the most remarkable features of his production, the high degree of intertextuality.