Jacque de Cambrais, 13th c.: Retrowange novelle

Jacque de Cambrais (1260-1280) was a trouvère from Cambrai, Northern France. “Retrowange novelle“ is a devotion song in the retrouenge (lyric poetry) style. Performers: Oliphant Uli Korhonen (voice, dulcimer), Eira Karlson (fiddle, voice), Leif Karlson (lute, saz lute, symphony, bells, Jew’s harp, double skin drum), Janek Öller (soprano recorder, tenor recorder, block flute, double flute, bombarde). CD info : « Joie Fines » Chansons pieuses - Hurskaita truveerilauluja - Medieval Pious Trouvère Songs. Retrowange novelle Dirai et bone et belle De la virge pucelle, Ke meire est et ancelle Celui ki de sa chair belle Nos ait raicheteit. Et ki trestous nos apelle A sa grant clairteit. Ce nos dist Isaïe En une profesie: D’une verge delgie, De Jessé espanie, Istroit flors per sibnorie De tres grant biauteit. Or est bien la profesie Torneie a verteit. Celle verge delgie Est la Virge Marie La flor nos senefie De ceu ne douteis mie, Jhesu Crist, ki la haichie En la croix sousfri; Fut por rendre ceaus en vie Ki ierent peri. ----------------------------- I sing a new song, good and beautiful, of a virgin, a maiden a mother and servant, and who with her fine flesh redeemed us, and who calls us all to her great clarity. We were told of this by Isaiah in a prophecy: a flower shall come forrh from the toot of Jesse a glorious great kingdom. That prophecy has now indeed come true. That tender root of Isaiah is the Virgin Mary. For us the flower, and I do not doubt this at all, means Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross in order that those condemned to perish might live.