Note 9 — Chapter VIII · TRACES OF POPULAR SONG IN THE POETRY OF THE TROUBADOURS.—THE PASTORELA.
Reading edition
M. Damase Arbaud some time ago published a charming collection of popular ditties (‘Chants Populaires de Provence,’ Aix, 1862), containing amongst other pieces some beautiful Christmas songs or noëls evidently of great antiquity, although still sung in Provence. Some of these poems, the editor believes, date back from the times of the Troubadours. But the oral tradition to which they owe their preservation has unfortunately changed their linguistic character beyond recognition.