Trobadors: A Symposium on Occitan Poetry

The 11^th century trobadors and trobairitz of Occitania, a region encompassing parts of southern France, Italy’s Occitan Valleys, Monaco, and Catalonia’s Val d’Aran, have long inspired American poets most notably Ezra Pound, with their lyrical, secular, and often subversive verse-commentary on the culture, politics, and love affairs of their time. Mythologized as wandering mystics, these professional poets set the stage for everything from forms like the cantata and sestina to Top 40 love songs. The Trobadors symposium celebrates the riches of Occitan poetry and culture, from the Middle Ages to today.

Symposium Schedule
Opening Remarks: Richard Sieburth

2:00–3:30 PM: Topologies of Occitan Language & Culture
Languages & their Territories with Nicole Peyrafitte, Domenja Lekuona, Alem Surre-Garcia
Occitan & the Orient with Deborah Kapchan
Participatory Introduction to Occitan Language & Songs with Joan Francés Tisnèr

4:00–5:30 PM Occitan Literature Through the Ages:
Troubadour Poetry: The Classical Moment with Richard Sieburth
Occitan Literature: The Middle Ages with Sarah Kay
Occitan Poetry: The 20th Century & Beyond with Pierre Joris & Alem Surre-Garcia

5:30–7:00 PM: Gascon Dinner with Ariane Daguin and D’Artagnan (Space is limited: Reservations Required)
Buffet Gascon offered by gourmet purveyor D’Artagnan, with short historic overview of Occitan food and culture by chef Ariane Daguin and Nicole Peyrafitte. Gascony is a region in Occitania known for its “sweetness of life” and is home to foie gras and Armagnac brandy.

Dinner admission (includes evening performance): $25 per person. For reservations please contact Joe Fritsch at (212) 431-7920 x 2832 or joe@poetshouse.org.

7:00–9:00 PM: NY’OC Trobadors Multimedia Performance
Journey through a millennium of Occitan culture in music, images, and bilingual poetry. With Joan Francés Tisnèr, Jakes Aymonino, Domenja Lekuona, Pierre Joris, and Nicole Peyrafitte.