Jaufré Rudel

Jaufré Rudel was a troubador, probably living in the mid-12th century. He is noted for developing the theme of "love from afar" (amor de lonh) in his songs.

Very little is known about his life, but a reference to him in a contemporary poem says that he went on the Second Crusade in 1147. Legend has it that he fell ill at sea, was taken ashore at Tripoli and died there in the same year.

Seven of Rudel's poems have survived to the present day, four of them with music. His composition "Lanquan li jorn" is thought to be the model for the Minnesinger Walther von der Vogelweide's song "Allerest lebe ich mir werde".

The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho has written an opera about Rudel called L'amour de loin.