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Tier 2 · legacy legendfull biography
Adam de la Halle
Person · male · Kingdom of France · Arras · born 1237 · died 1288 · recording since 1953
French poet, composer and trouvère
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Also known as Adam le Bossu · Adam the Hunchback · 亚当·德·拉阿勒
Timeline
7 events▣ Album 4◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1230s
1280s
1950s
· Debut release
Debut release: Le Jeu de Robin et Marion - 13 Rondeaux / 17 Danses du 13e et 14e Siècle
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
· Album
Album: Le Jeu de Robin et Marion - 13 Rondeaux / 17 Danses du 13e et 14e Siècle
Album
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
Biography
English biography666 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1307199604
Biography
Adam de la Halle (1245–50 – 1285–8/after 1306) was a French poet-composer trouvère. Among the few medieval composers to write both monophonic and polyphonic music, in this respect he has been considered both a conservative and progressive composer, resulting in a complex legacy: he cultivated admired representatives of older trouvère genres, but also experimented with newer dramatic works. Adam represented the final generation of the trouvère tradition and "has long been regarded as one of the most important musical and literary figures of thirteenth-century Europe".
Adam's literary and musical works include chansons and jeux-partis (poetic debates) in the style of the trouvères; polyphonic rondel and motets in the style of early liturgical polyphony; and a musical play, Jeu de Robin et Marion (c. 1282–83), which is considered the earliest surviving secular French play with music. He was a member of the Confrérie des jongleurs et bourgeois d'Arras, a fraternity of jongleurs.
Life and career
Adam's other nicknames, "le Bossu d'Arras" and "Adam d'Arras", suggest that he came from Arras, France. The sobriquet "the Hunchback" was probably a family name; Adam himself points out that he was not one. His father, Henri de la Halle, was a well-known Citizen of Arras, and Adam studied grammar, theology, and music at the Cistercian abbey of Vaucelles, near Cambrai. The father and son had their share in the civil discords in Arras, and for a short time took refuge in Douai. Adam had been destined for the church, but renounced this intention, and married a certain Marie, who features in many of his songs, rondeaux, motets and jeux-partis. Afterwards he joined the household of Robert II, Count of Artois; and then was attached to Charles of Anjou, brother of Louis IX, whose fortunes he followed in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Italy.
At the court of Charles, after Charles became king of Naples, Adam wrote his Jeu de Robin et Marion, the most famous of his works.
Editions
article by Paulin Paris in: Histoire litteraire de La France (vol. xx. pp. 638–675)
The edition of Adam's two jeux in: Monmerqué and Michel's Theatre francais au moyen age (1842)
Oeuvres completes (1872), edited by E. de Coussemaker.
Ernest Langlois, Le jeu de Robin et Marion (1896), with a translation in modern French
A Guesnon, La Satire a Arras au XIIIe, siecle (1900)
Canchons et Partures des... Adan delle Hale, a critical edition by Rudolf Berger,(Halle, 1900)
Nigel Wilkins, The Lyric Works of Adam de la Halle, ed., Corpus Musicae, Vol.44, American Institute of Musicology, 1967.
Recent French ed. of complete works: edited by Pierre-Yves Badel (Paris: Livre de poche, 1995) (ISBN 2-253-06656-7)
Recordings
1955 – Adam de La Halle. Le jeu de Robin et de Marion; 13 rondeaux (Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Guillaume d'Amiens, Anon.). Pro Musica Antiqua, Brussels, Safford Cape, conductor. Recorded 23 June 1953, in the Palais des Academies, Brussels. Archiv Produktion II. Research Period: The Central Middle Ages. Series A: Troubadours, Trouvères and Minnesingers; Series B: Music of the Minstrels; Series C: Early Polyphony before 1300. LP recording, 1 disc: analog, monaural, 33+1⁄3 rpm, 12 in. [Germany]: Archiv Produktion.
1991 – Adam de La Halle. Le jeu de Robin et Marion. Ensemble Perceval, Guy Robert, director. Recorded 1980. CD recording, 1 disc: digital, stereo, 4+3⁄4 in. Arion ARN 68162. France: Arion.
1991 – Adam de La Halle. Le jeu de Robin et Marion. Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Thomas Binkley, cond. Recorded May 1987 at the Barfüsserkirche in Basel, Switzerland. CD recording, 1 disc: digital, stereo, 4+3⁄4 in. Focus 913. [Bloomington, Ind.]: Focus.
1998 – "Robin Loves Me" arranged for solo guitar (and performed by) Gareth Koch as the final track of his "Carmina Burana" CD released by ABC Classics in 2006.
2004 – Zodiac. Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior in the Low Countries and Europe Capilla Flamenca. Eufoda 1360.
2006 – Adam de La Halle. D'amoureus cuer voel chanter, Anne Delafosse-Quentin, Les Jardins de Courtoisie, Zig Zag Territoires (ZZT070401)
2019 – Noel Akchoté. Adam de La Halle – Le Doux Regard de ma Dame. Self published.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 46 | 95.9th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 4 | 78.1th |
| Studio albums | 4 | 82.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -665 | 0.1th |
| Genres | 1 | 56th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (4 release groups · 4 studio albums)
Albums · 4
Le Jeu de Robin et Marion - 13 Rondeaux / 17 Danses du 13e et 14e Siècle
1953 · studio album
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Tracklist · 31 tracks · 41:09
A1Le jou de Robin et de Marion7:23A2aLi dous regars de me dame0:46A2bJe muir, je muir d'amourete1:48A2cA jointes mains vous proi0:45A2dDieus soit en cheste maison1:31A2eHé, diex ! Quant verai0:52A2fOr est baiars en la pasture0:46A2gA dieu commant amouretes1:59A2hBonne amourete0:20A2iDame, or suis trais1:42A2jFi, maris, de vostre amour0:59A2kTrop desir a veoir0:56A2lDiex, comment porroie1:51A2mFines amouretes ai1:21B1La septime estampie réale0:55B2Stanpides1:35B3Ronde : C'est là-gieus0:27B4Ronde : C'est desoz l'olive0:36B5Nota1:03B6La quarte estampie réale1:53B7Estampida1:18B8Stantipes 20:57B9Danse0:41B10Rondeau : Prendés-y garde1:06B11Saltarello1:29B12Lamento di tristano1:23B13La ballette de la reine d'avril1:07B14Trotto0:59B15Ronde : Ainsi doit entrer en ville0:54B16Ronde : Main se levoit aëlis0:38B17La Rotta1:091991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 53:17
1Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 1. Marion et le chevalier6:522Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 2. Marion et Robin11:203Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 3. Gautier et Baudon4:224Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 4. Perronelle5:355Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 5. Le retour du chevalier - L'enlevement de Marion7:256Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 6. Les Retrouvailles1:557Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 7. Le jeu du saint3:488Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 8. Le jeu du roi4:129Le Jeu de Robin et Marion: Scene 9. Le repas7:482004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 58:21
1Motet: "Aucun se sont loés d'amours / A Dieu commant / Super te" / Rondeau: "A Dieu commant amouretes"3:462Motet: "Mout me fus gries / Robin m'aime / portare" / Chi commenche li gieus de Robin et Marion qu'Adan fist / Jeu: "Robin m'aime, Robin m'a" / Jeu: "Je me repairoie du tournoiement" / Jeu: "Hé! Robin"5:303Jeu: "Vous perdés vos paine" / Jeu: "Bergeronnete sui, mais j'ai" / Jeu: "Trairi deluriau" / Jeu: "Hui main jou chevauchoie"4:124Jeu: "Hé, Robechon!"2:435Jeu: "Vous l'orrés bien dire" / Jeu: "Bergeronnette, douche baisselete" / Jeu: "Robin par l'ame ten pere"4:186Motet: "Il n'a en toi / Robin, li malvais / Omnes" / Rondeau: "Or est Baiars"3:437Ductia des bergers (adapted from Bergeronnette douche baisselete)3:128Rondeau: "Je muir, je muir d'amourete" / Jeu: "J'oi Robin flagoler"3:009Jeu: "Hé! Resveille toi, Robin!" / Motet: "En mai / L'autre jour / Hé! resveille toi, Robin!" / La septime estampie real3:5210Jeu: "Aveuc tele compagniez" / Rondeau: "Amours et ma dame aussi"4:4611Motet: "Hé, Marotele! / En la praërie / Aptat"1:2212La Quarte estampie real2:5013La Quinte estampie real2:2114Jeu: "J'ai encore un tel pasté" / Jeu: "Audigier, dist Raimberge" / Jeu: "Venés aprés moi"5:1715Chanson: "Merchi, Amours"4:3016Motet: "Entre Adan et Hanikiel / Chiés bien seans / Aptatur"2:592006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 45 tracks · 1:14:24
1Mout / Robins m'aime / Portare1:012Pilgrim's Prologue after "Li jus du pelerin"2:463Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Robins m'aime"3:024Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Le me repairoie"0:395Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Hé Robin"0:226Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "...When along comes a Knight on the lookout..."4:337Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Vous perdés vo paine"0:228Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "...But Marion means no when she says so..."0:309Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Bergeronnete sui"0:2210Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "...And the Knight leaves empty-handed"0:1211Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. "Trairi deluriau"2:0712Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. Rondeau No. 2 "Li dous regars"1:0313Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene I. Rondeau No. 15 "Tant con je vivrai"1:4214Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "Hé Robechon leure leure va"1:0715Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "...And tastes some of her fare..."3:1316Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "Vous l'orrés bien dire"0:1317Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "...And tests her fidelity..."0:3918Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "Bergeronnete douche baisselete"1:4819Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "...And she tests his dancing prowess..."0:1720Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "Robin par l'ame"1:1121Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "...And Robin goes for reinforcements..."1:2922Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. "...His manly cousins."0:5423Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene II. Motet No. 2 "De ma dame" / "Dieus" / "Omnes"3:1324Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene III. "Robin rounds up guests for the party."1:5425Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene III. "Mout" / "Robins m'aime" / "Portare"1:0226Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. "The Knight returns to find his bird..."2:0927Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. "J'oi Robin flagoler"0:2128Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. "...Beats up Robin and kidnaps Marion..."2:3529Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. "Hé resveille toi Robin"0:3730Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. "...But Robin is aroused to the point of valour."1:0331Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene IV. Rondeau No. 3 "Hareu"0:4132Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene V. "Marion sees off the Knight, her friends roll up..."3:5433Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene V. "Aveuc tele compaignie"1:0134Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene V. "...And it's time for all kinds of party games."10:2135Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. "Robin rescues a sheep, declares his love..."4:5436Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. "J'ai encore un tel pasté"0:2937Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. "...And promises some delicacies of his own..."0:0738Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. "Que jou ai un tel capon"0:2739Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. "...When he returns."0:3240Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VI. Motet No. 1 "A Dieu commant amouretes"2:0041Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VII. "Robin brings a pair of horns to the party..."2:4042Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VII. "Audigier"0:0743Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VII. "...Gets over his jealousy and gets everyone on their feet."1:4844Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VII. "Venés apres moi"1:3145Le jeu de Robin et de Marion: Scene VII. "Mout" / "Robins m'aime" / "Portare"1:26
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Adam de la Halle head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 46 | 95.9th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 4 | 78.1th |
| Studio albums | 4 | 82.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 7 | 82.6th |
| Recording span (years) | -665 | 0.1th |
| Genres | 1 | 56th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_de_la_halle.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/43a73eb8-0028-4aa8-a035-89cf466ccc16discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/43a73eb8-0028-4aa8-a035-89cf466ccc16core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4214genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4214seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_de_la_Hallebiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_de_la_Halle
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: historic figure (46 language versions, career ended)
Image: Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q4214 · MusicBrainz: 43a73eb8-0028-4aa8-a035-89cf466ccc16