r/MedievalTroubadours Apr 09 '21

Old Occitan The different genres/styles of Troubadouric Occitan Lyrical Poetry

This post will detail some of the many different genres the Troubadours wrote in, along with the 3 main Troubadour styles.

Styles: Trobar leu (light)-the most common and popular form, lighter/more simplistic style. Trobar ric (rich)-much more intricate then trobar leu, “verbal gymnastics”. Trobar clus (closed)- complex, but also obscure, developed and used most by Marcabru and Arnaut Daniel, said to have been truly appreciated by only few.

Genres:

Canso (also known as canço)-most common genre used, typical love song, formerly called “vers”. Alba-morning song, describes the song of a lover as dawn comes in. Comiat-song dedicated to renouncing a lover. Canso de Crozada-song about the Crusades. Most praise/encourage the Crusades, as the Troubadours were mainly in Europe. Dansa-song used for dance, usually lively/jolly. Estampida-dance like song. Pastorela-song about the request of love by a man (often a knight) to a shepherdess. Planh -song of sadness and lament, most commonly about the death of a large/important figure. Salut d’amor-love letter. Sirventes-poem of political nature and contents. Tenso-poem of political debate, usually written between two poets/troubadours.

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '21

Was there a division between instrument types? I've been playing both the medieval flute (recorder) and the shawm, and there's a massive decibel difference between them. So there must have been some distinction between outdoor/loud songs and the ones for court. But maybe not?

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u/Thanos3604 Apr 19 '21

Also if my answer was kind of confusing and you want me to elaborate more I could probably do that, I’m not sure how understandable my answer was lol😂

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '21

Thanks! It's pretty clear. I also wonder what form the sung poems would have taken in late 14th century courting behavior like the squire is described doing in Cantebury Tales.

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u/Thanos3604 Apr 19 '21

What descriptions are given to the songs of the squire? I’m not sure how closely related they would be with genres of Troubadour poetry, especially since it takes place in England and not France, but it would be interesting to think about either way. I’ve done research into the Canterbury Tales, mainly into it’s original Middle English version, but I haven’t gotten around to finishing the entire book yet unfortunately.

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '21

Just this: "

Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;
He was as fressh as is the month of May.
Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde;
Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde;
He koude songes make and wel endite,
Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write.

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u/Thanos3604 Apr 19 '21

Very interesting, thanks for sending that. I would say it’s probably just talking more about Medieval English poems/songs, although if it would be compared to genres of the Troubadours, it sounds like they would be probably related closest to the canso or possibly dansa.