Artist Info: Matfre Ermengau

Matfre Ermengau (died 1322) was a Franciscan friar, legist, and troubadour from Béziers. He had a master of laws (senhor de leis) degree.

He wrote one canso, whose melody survives, and one moralising sirventes. His most famous work was an Occitan poetic book in 35,600 octosyllables called the Breviari d'amor, begun in 1288. Encyclopedic in length and diversity, its sole purpose is the reconciliation of love for God with the erotic amours of the troubadour lyric. [read more...]