Collecting Trouvère Lyric at the Peripheries The Lessons of MSS Paris, BnF fr. 20050 and Bern, Burgerbibliothek 389

Abstract

In order to offer an argument for the role that material philology should play in future editions of medieval lyric, this article examines the evolution of compilational practices between the earliest and latest trouvère chansonniers, covering the period 1230 to 1310. Though the argument focuses on “peripheral” codices — from geographical and temporal points of view, it touches on pivotal manuscripts that articulate the transition from one set of compilational values to another. The analysis concludes with suggestions for future text editors in their quest for editions that capture the variance and vagaries of trouvère performance and transmission throughout the thirteenth century.