Troubadour vs. Bard — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 3, 2024
Troubadours were medieval poets in southern France, focusing on courtly love, whereas bards were ancient Celtic poets, known for their role in preserving and narrating tribal history.
Difference Between Troubadour and Bard
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Troubadours emerged in the High Middle Ages in the Occitan-speaking regions of France, where they composed and performed lyric poetry focused on themes of chivalry and courtly love. These poets often came from noble families and their art was intended for the courts. On the other hand, bards were poets, musicians, and singers in ancient Celtic societies, such as those in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Bards played a crucial role in preserving the oral history of their people, often through epic tales and songs that recounted the deeds of heroes and the history of their tribes.
While troubadours typically performed their own compositions, celebrating the ideals of the noble classes and the complexities of romantic love, bards were more likely to recite established tales and poems that had been passed down through generations. This distinction highlights the troubadours' focus on personal expression and the art of composition, whereas bards were more concerned with the role of preservation and communal memory.
The language of composition also distinguishes troubadours and bards. Troubadours wrote in Occitan, also known as Langue d'Oc, a Romance language spoken in southern France, northern Spain, and some parts of Italy. In contrast, bards used Celtic languages, such as Gaelic in Ireland and Scotland, and Welsh in Wales, to craft their narratives and songs, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Celtic peoples.
Another key difference lies in the societal status and function of troubadours and bards. Troubadours often enjoyed the patronage of the nobility and were integral to the courtly culture, where their poetry could influence politics and personal relationships. Conversely, bards were revered as keepers of tradition and history, possessing a more intrinsic role within their societies that went beyond entertainment to include education and the maintenance of cultural identity.
The legacy of troubadours and bards has also followed different paths. The troubadour tradition has largely been absorbed into the broader tapestry of Western literary history, remembered for its contribution to the development of lyric poetry and romantic literature. Bards, however, are often celebrated as symbols of national identity, especially in countries like Wales and Scotland, where efforts to revive and preserve Celtic languages and traditions continue to honor their role in cultural heritage.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
High Middle Ages, Occitan-speaking France
Ancient Celtic societies
Themes
Courtly love, chivalry
Tribal history, heroism
Language
Occitan (Langue d'Oc)
Celtic languages (Gaelic, Welsh)
Role in Society
Noble entertainers, poets
Historians, preservers of tradition
Legacy and Impact
Development of lyric poetry and romanticism
Preservation of Celtic languages and traditions
Compare with Definitions
Troubadour
Medieval poet-singers in southern France.
The troubadour serenaded the court with verses of courtly love.
Bard
Cultural icons in Celtic societies.
The bard was respected as a keeper of the tribe's traditions and lore.
Troubadour
Composers of lyric poetry.
A troubadour's repertoire often included poems about valor and unrequited love.
Bard
Ancient Celtic poet-musicians.
The bard recited epic tales of heroes and battles around the fire.
Troubadour
Performers for the nobility.
The castle hosted a troubadour to entertain guests with romantic ballads.
Bard
Oral historians of their tribes.
The bard's song preserved the history and deeds of the clan.
Troubadour
Influencers of courtly culture.
The troubadour's poetry reflected the sophisticated norms of chivalric behavior.
Bard
Performers of epic poetry and music.
With his lyre, the bard captivated the audience with stories from the past.
Troubadour
Creators of complex verse forms.
The troubadour crafted his song in a challenging sestina structure.
Bard
Symbol of national identity.
The bard's tales of ancient glory inspired a sense of pride in one's heritage.
Troubadour
A troubadour (English: , French: [tʁubaduʁ] (listen); Occitan: trobador [tɾuβaˈðu] (listen)) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word troubadour is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz.
Bard
In Celtic cultures, a bard is a professional story teller, verse-maker, music composer, oral historian and genealogist, employed by a patron (such as a monarch or noble) to commemorate one or more of the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. Originally bards were a specific lower class of poet, contrasting with the higher rank known as fili in Ireland and Highland Scotland.
Troubadour
A French medieval lyric poet composing and singing in Provençal in the 11th to 13th centuries, especially on the theme of courtly love.
Bard
A poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition
Our national bard, Robert Burns
Troubadour
One of a class of 12th-century and 13th-century lyric poets in southern France, northern Italy, and northern Spain, who composed songs in langue d'oc often about courtly love.
Bard
A rasher of fat bacon placed on meat or game before roasting.
Troubadour
A strolling minstrel.
Bard
Cover (meat or game) with rashers of fat bacon
The venison was barded and marinated
Troubadour
An itinerant composer and performer of songs in medieval Europe; a jongleur or travelling minstrel.
Bard
One of an ancient Celtic order of minstrel poets who composed and recited verses celebrating the legendary exploits of chieftains and heroes.
Troubadour
One of a school of poets who flourished from the eleventh to the thirteenth century, principally in Provence, in the south of France, and also in the north of Italy. They invented, and especially cultivated, a kind of lyrical poetry characterized by intricacy of meter and rhyme, and usually of a romantic, amatory strain.
Bard
A poet, especially a lyric poet.
Troubadour
A singer of folk songs
Bard
A piece of armor used to protect or ornament a horse.
Bard
To equip (a horse) with bards.
Bard
To cover (meat) in thin pieces of bacon or fat to preserve moisture during cooking.
Bard
A professional poet and singer, like among the ancient Celts, whose occupation was to compose and sing verses in honor of the heroic achievements of princes and brave men.
Bard
(by extension) A poet.
Shakespeare is known as the bard of Avon.
Bard
A piece of defensive (or, sometimes, ornamental) armor for a horse's neck, breast, and flanks; a barb. (Often in the plural.)
Bard
Defensive armor formerly worn by a man at arms.
Bard
(cooking) A thin slice of fat bacon used to cover any meat or game.
Bard
The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree; the rind.
Bard
Specifically, Peruvian bark.
Bard
To cover a horse in defensive armor.
Bard
(cooking) To cover (meat or game) with a thin slice of fat bacon.
Bard
A professional poet and singer, as among the ancient Celts, whose occupation was to compose and sing verses in honor of the heroic achievements of princes and brave men.
Bard
Hence: A poet; as, the bard of Avon.
Bard
Defensive armor formerly worn by a man at arms.
Bard
A thin slice of fat bacon used to cover any meat or game.
Bard
The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree; the rind.
Bard
Specifically, Peruvian bark.
Bard
To cover (meat or game) with a thin slice of fat bacon.
Bard
A lyric poet
Bard
An ornamental caparison for a horse
Bard
Put a caparison on;
Caparison the horses for the festive occasion
Common Curiosities
What is a troubadour?
A troubadour is a medieval poet-singer from southern France, known for composing and performing lyric poetry focused on courtly love and chivalry.
What is a bard?
A bard is an ancient Celtic poet, musician, and singer, who played a key role in preserving and narrating the history and mythology of their people through oral traditions.
What languages did troubadours and bards use?
Troubadours wrote in Occitan, a Romance language, while bards used Celtic languages such as Gaelic and Welsh.
What was the main purpose of a troubadour’s poetry?
The main purpose was to express and reflect upon themes of love, chivalry, and the social dynamics of the noble courts.
What made bards important to Celtic societies?
Bards were crucial for their role in preserving oral history, culture, and the genealogies of their tribes, acting as custodians of communal memory.
Were troubadours and bards considered of the same social status?
No, troubadours were often nobles or part of the courtly society, while bards held a unique position as preservers of culture and history, respected within their communities.
How did troubadours and bards differ in their themes?
Troubadours focused on themes of courtly love and chivalry, whereas bards centered on tribal history, heroism, and mythology.
Can a troubadour also be a bard?
While both roles involve poetry and music, the cultural and historical contexts of troubadours and bards make them distinct, tied to different traditions and societies.
Are there modern equivalents to troubadours and bards?
Modern singer-songwriters share similarities with troubadours in their personal expression through music, while storytellers and folk musicians echo the bardic tradition of narrating communal histories and myths.
Did troubadours and bards compose their own music?
Troubadours often composed their own poetry and possibly the accompanying music, while bards may have composed new tales or adapted traditional ones.
How are troubadours and bards remembered today?
Troubadours are remembered through literary history and their contribution to poetry, while bards are celebrated in the cultural and national identities of Celtic nations, with their stories and songs still performed and cherished.
Were women allowed to be troubadours or bards?
While less common, there were female troubadours, known as trobairitz, in medieval France. The role of women as bards in Celtic societies is less documented but likely varied by region and period.
How did the audience differ for troubadours and bards?
Troubadours performed for the nobility and courtly audiences, while bards addressed a broader segment of society, including common folk and warriors.
Have bards played a role in preserving languages?
Yes, bards have played a significant role in preserving Celtic languages and dialects through their oral traditions and poetic compositions.
How did the troubadour tradition influence modern music?
The troubadour tradition influenced the development of romantic and lyrical themes in Western music and literature.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
