(fl c1240–70). French trouvère. He was perhaps the Johannes Cuvellarius of Bapaume (on the outskirts of Arras) cited in documents of 1258. His period of activity can in any case be determined: the chanson Pour la meillour is dedicated to Wagon Wion, who was échevin (sheriff) of Arras in 1265 and who died before February 1273. As respondent in nine jeux-partis and judge in six others, Cuvelier was familiar with many of the more important members of the Arras poetic circle, including Jehan Bretel, Jehan de Grieviler, Lambert Ferri and Adam de la Halle. Since Gamart de Vilers addressed Cuvelier as ‘Sire’, it would appear that he was a figure of importance.
With the exception of Pour la meillour, which is decasyllabic, Cuvelier's chansons courtoises favour heptasyllabic lines, often mixed with pentasyllabic or other lines. Amours est follows the pattern AA' BB' CC' DE; otherwise, all chansons are cast in bar form. Generally some form of repetition or motivic play is present in the caudas. Cuvelier's predilection for plagal modes (except for J'ai une dame) is unusual. In half of the melodies the final is not a tone centre of primary importance. In the Chansonnier Cangé (F-Pn fr.846) there are occasional hints of modal rhythms in Amours est, Mout me plaisent and Pour la meillour; and the disposition of ligatures in Anuis et desesperance and Jolivetés also hints at times that a free use of modal rhythm may not be inappropriate.
Edition: Trouvère Lyrics with Melodies: Complete and Comparative Edition, ed. H. Tischler, CMM, cvii (1997)
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Amours est une merveille, R.566; ed. in Gennrich |
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Anuis et desesperance, R.214 (R [Schwan siglum: |
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see Sources, ms]) |
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J'ai une dame enamee, R.509 |
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Jolivetés et joenece, R.484 |
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Mout me plaisent a sentir, R.1455 |
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Pour la meillour qu'onques formast Nature, R.2108 |
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Biaus sire tresorier d'Aire, R.155 (proposed jointly by Jehan Bretel and Lambert Ferri to the Tresorier d'Aire and Cuvelier) |
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Cuvelier, dites moi voir, R.1824 (proposed by Bretel) |
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Cuvelier, et vous, Ferri, R.1042 (proposed by Bretel) |
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Cuvelier, j'ain mieus que moi, R.1671 (proposed by Gamart de Vilers) |
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Cuvelier, or i parra, R.8 (proposed by Bretel) |
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Cuvelier, s'il est ainsi, R.1025 (proposed by Bretel) |
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Cuvelier, un jugement, R.692 (proposed by Jehan de Grieviler) |
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Cuvelier, vous amerés, R.909 (proposed by Bretel) |
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Je vous demant, Cuvelier, espondés, R.928 (proposed by Bretel) |
A. Långfors, A. Jeanroy and L. Brandin, eds.: Récueil général des jeux-partis français (Paris, 1926)
F. Gennrich: Grundriss einer Formenlehre des mittelalterlichen Liedes als Grundlage einer musikalische Formenlehre des Liedes (Halle, 1932/R)
For further bibliography see Troubadours, trouvères.
THEODORE KARP