Berenguer de Palol (o Palou o Palazol) was born in Catalonia, the land of the Count of Rossillon. We know very little about his life. The vida recites: “... he was a poor knight and teacher of arms. He composed beautiful songs which he sang for Ermessen, wife of Arnon d’Avinyo, son of Maria di Peizolada”. The only date regarding his life that can be established with certainty is 1164, the year in which his patron Jaufre’ III died.

The artistic activity of Berenguer has reached us through a series of passionate compositions of a rare musical as well as poetic beauty. His songs point out the particular ‘topoi’ of the Occitan love poetry; besides the choice of the language of Oc, his songs expound the idea of love so dear to the courtly poetry enclosed in the concept of ‘fin’amor’. Berenguer’s poetry shows an evident reseach of the supreme love, or joy; a way paved with suffering for love joined to the cult of feminine beauty. Also in the songs of this troubadour the main suject is the domna (woman), seen partly as an abstract goal in the search of love, and partly real, as his vida narrates.

In the opening verse of the song, Tant m’abelis joys et amor et chans, we find the representation of the artistic current to which Berenguer apparently fully adhered; it seems appropriate to refer the first strophe entirely: “So much does joy, love, song, happiness, fun and courtesy, please me that there is no wealth nor abundance in the world that could make me happier. So that is why I know that my lady keeps the keys of all the goods I hope in and wait for, and I can have none of it without Her”.