Adam de Givenchi

Adam de Givenchi, also spelled Adan de Givenci, Givenci, Gevanche, or Gievenci (fl. 1230–1268) was a trouvère, probably from Givenchy, who was active in and around Arras.

Adam appears in charters of May and July 1230 as a clerk of the Bishop of Arras. He was still serving in the household of the bishop in 1232. In 1243 he was named as a priest and chaplain to the bishop.[1] In 1245 he was the doyen of Lens.[2]

He is assumed to have known the poet-composers Pierre de Corbie, Guillaume le Vinier and Jehan Bretel because he engages in one jeu-parti with Guillaume le Vinier in which Pierre is called as a witness, and another with a 'Jehan', who is assumed to be the prolific jeu-parti writer Jehan Bretel.[3]

His songs survive mainly in MSS M (the chansonnier du roi) and T (the chansonnier de noailles), except for RS1164 which is additionally in MS a and the two jeux partis, which are more widely copied.[4] Six other poems survive attributed to him, all with melodies. Two of these are chansons avec des refrains and two further are descorts.[5]

  1. ^ See Ian R. Parker, 'Adam de Givenchi.' Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online.
  2. ^ See Ian R. Parker, 'Adam de Givenchi.' Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online.
  3. ^ See Arthur Långfors with A. Jeanroy et L. Brandin, Recueil général des jeux-partis français (Paris: Champion, 1926), 2.108 and 1.352.
  4. ^ See Arthur Långfors with A. Jeanroy et L. Brandin, Recueil général des jeux-partis français (Paris: Champion, 1926).
  5. ^ On the descorts see A. Jeanroy, L. Brandin and P. Aubry, Lais et descorts français du XIIIe siècle (Paris, 1901), 18–21.