Ai Vist Lo Lop - Medieval Occitan Song

Arrangement by Farya Faraji, vocals by Ila Rodriguez, Aurora Aguilar and Farya Faraji. This is a reworking of a version I had initially uploaded in 2021; the reworking introduced more historically accurate performance practices based on more thorough research. This is a historically informed rendition of an old medieval song from Occitania, today's southern France where the Occitan language was historically predominant. It's widely believed that this song's origin and its melody may have roots in liturgical music that was repurposed in a comedic and parodic manner to fit the reality of the pastoral commoners.

The arrangement is historically informed and uses the known features of Medieval European music, namely the fact that the song is primarily monophonic in nature, driven by a constant drone on the tonic provided by the hurdy-gurdy, and the harmony used is accurate to the time period, taking the form of transposition to consecutive parallel fifths throughout the melody, as well as a drone harmony consisting solely of the perfect fifth. Both these forms of harmony are very much alien to today's Western triadic and tonal harmony, but were the norm from the 800's to the 1300's, when harmony began to take on a more polyphonic shape that would soon crystallise into today's tonal harmony of Western music. One thing to note however, is that I included an anachronism that is unfortunately quite common in many otherwise historically informed renditions of medieval music: the hurdy-gurdy provides a rythmic buzzing sound that only came about in the early 1500's as far as earliest attestations are known; the components necessary for this sound did not exist physically on these instruments in the era this song originates in; so do note this oversight.

The instrumentation consists of a hurdy-gurdy, a flute, lute, and cittern, with drums serving as percussions.

Lyrics in Medieval Occitan:
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard dançar
Totei tres fasián lo torn de l'aubre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre

Totei tres fasián lo torn de l'aubre
Fasián lo torn dau boisson folhat.

Aquí trimam tota l'annada
Per se ganhar quauquei sòus
Rèn que dins una mesada
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainal, la lèbre
Nos i fotèm tot pel cuol
Ai vist lo lèbre, lo rainal, lo lop.

English translation:
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
I saw the wolf, the fox dance.
All three were circling round the tree
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
All three were circling round the tree,
They were circling round the sprouting bush.

Here we slave away all the year round
So we can earn a few coins
And just in a month's time
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
We shove it all in our asses,
I saw the hare, the fox, the wolf.

[faryafaraji]

Arrangement by Farya Faraji, vocals by Ila Rodriguez, Aurora Aguilar and Farya Faraji. This is a reworking of a version I had initially uploaded in 2021; the reworking introduced more historically accurate performance practices based on more thorough research. This is a historically informed rendition of an old medieval song from Occitania, today's southern France where the Occitan language was historically predominant. It's widely believed that this song's origin and its melody may have roots in liturgical music that was repurposed in a comedic and parodic manner to fit the reality of the pastoral commoners.

The arrangement is historically informed and uses the known features of Medieval European music, namely the fact that the song is primarily monophonic in nature, driven by a constant drone on the tonic provided by the hurdy-gurdy, and the harmony used is accurate to the time period, taking the form of transposition to consecutive parallel fifths throughout the melody, as well as a drone harmony consisting solely of the perfect fifth. Both these forms of harmony are very much alien to today's Western triadic and tonal harmony, but were the norm from the 800's to the 1300's, when harmony began to take on a more polyphonic shape that would soon crystallise into today's tonal harmony of Western music. One thing to note however, is that I included an anachronism that is unfortunately quite common in many otherwise historically informed renditions of medieval music: the hurdy-gurdy provides a rythmic buzzing sound that only came about in the early 1500's as far as earliest attestations are known; the components necessary for this sound did not exist physically on these instruments in the era this song originates in; so do note this oversight.

The instrumentation consists of a hurdy-gurdy, a flute, lute, and cittern, with drums serving as percussions.

Lyrics in Medieval Occitan:
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard dançar
Totei tres fasián lo torn de l'aubre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre

Totei tres fasián lo torn de l'aubre
Fasián lo torn dau boisson folhat.

Aquí trimam tota l'annada
Per se ganhar quauquei sòus
Rèn que dins una mesada
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainal, la lèbre
Nos i fotèm tot pel cuol
Ai vist lo lèbre, lo rainal, lo lop.

English translation:
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
I saw the wolf, the fox dance.
All three were circling round the tree
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
All three were circling round the tree,
They were circling round the sprouting bush.

Here we slave away all the year round
So we can earn a few coins
And just in a month's time
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
We shove it all in our asses,
I saw the hare, the fox, the wolf.

[personeater]

They did not have youtube when this was written, please unupload to maximize period accuracy

[BorninPurple]

Farya keeps buying plane tickets to locations for music videos, however I'm questioning how he managed to make it to the kaleidoscope realm

[januszbogumil]

It's so cool how in a folk song you can generally just repeat the same melody without introducing any other musical ideas and it still
works. while in modern style songs you usually need a verse and chorus and bridge to keep it interesting

[WaltuhWait]

Bruh holy shish. This was unexpected, because I could've sworn that for half an hour, I listened to Ai Vist Lo Lop of some other versions.... And now Farya Faraji drops this. By Mars! This is a miracle!

[Torfin]

I love how casually the song just says "Nos i fotem tot pel cuol" ("They f*cK us all in the a§s"), like any good vulgar medieval hymn. I imagine Farya, Ila and Aurora trying not to have a laugh attack while singing said verse 😂😂😂

[Decimo]

Agraït amb El de Dalt. Gràcies Farya per fer una música espectacular. Molt d’amor des de València, un territori catalanoparlant, hereus de l’occità!

[lamarr]

As a Catalan speaker, I can understand almost everything in this song.

[bernard]

Im an iranian guy who is really passionate about world history and cultures, and your channel is one of the most entertaining and informative channels on the platform. It gives unique insights into the culture of ancient/medieval people and the information is easy to digest and understand with your presentation. Love the content 10/10

[kgle]

Finally! Someone made a non-shit version of this song. Having half my family live in Carcassonne and playing the hurdy-gurdy, i greatly appreciate this. Also, amazing and tasteful arrangement. Love your work

[Overlord]

WE'RE MAKING IT OUT OF THE TAVERN WITH THIS ONE, LADS 🔊🔊🗣️🗣️

[romulus_rex]

Ok, you are officially a mage of some sort for me now. I discovered this song not even a week ago and bum! Farya version. Amazing 🎉

[AlyssMyrany]

Après "j'étends le loup, le renard et la belette" voici venu "je vois le loup, le renard et le lièvre"

Merci Farya, pour cette petite merveille !!!

[sarahlabbe]

"J'ai vu le loup, le renard, le lièvre" à la soirée Occitane, un grand classique.

[Tharsix]

YEEEAH! Faraji-sama, what a STYLE! I will never get over how much of a musical genius you are. I sang along the whole thing (I'm a fanatic of medieval european songs, sue me).

[TetsuShima]

Ngl, since the first time I heard Ai vist lo Lop, I was hoping to see the day when my beloved Farya would make a cover of it. It is not necessary to clarify that my expectations have been more than exceeded. 😊

[AurorainAurora]

Recently, I discovered this song on YouTube, liked it, and listened to some of its repertoire. Then this came. This is splendid.
Life often doesn't go well, but sometimes the world works for me, right? For me, it is now.

[VoidSpider]

The 5 dislikes are from offended clergy members

[dapperdinosaurus]

IT’S I used to listen to the original version all the time!

[ІлляВетров-йд]

I have known this song for almost 10 years at this point, and this is one of best variations I have ever heard. Thank you!