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I]ZCdgidcGZXdgY^c\h
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Listening Guide
HijYnHeVXZ
-
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras: Kalenda maya (The First of May)
89"GDB
DATE OF WORK:
89"GDB
Late 13th century
89"GDB
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X
GENRE:
TEXT:
MUSICAL FORM:
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X!
H]dgiZg
Estampie (troubadour dance song)
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X!
H]dgiZgZWdd`
I]ZCdgidcHXdgZh
Strophic poem (6 stanzas of irregular lines;
only 4 stanzas sungHijYn<j^YZ
on
recording)
A-A-B-B-C-C (3 short sections, each repeated), for each stanza
Nasal tone of rebec.
Improvisational quality of instrumentalists (guitar and nakers).
Gentle rise and fall of melodic line.
Repetition of individual phrases and strophic reiteration of melody.
Triple-meter, dancelike character .
Opening melody with solo rebec, in upward-rising phrases:
& 43 œ
˙
œ
œ œ œ œ
˙
bœ
œ œ œ
n˙
œ
œ œ
Instrumental dance: Entire melody played once (A-A-B-B-C-C)
Solo rebec (phrase A).
Accompaniment with strummed guitar (on repeat of A).
Hand drum (nakers) accompaniment enters (on new phrase, B).
Melody continues through phrase C, with more complex rhythms in
accompaniment; flutelike pipe enters at end with ostinato figure.
Stanza 1, with voice
Kalenda maya,
ni fueills de faia
ni chans d’auzell ni flors de glaia
non es qe.m plaia,
pros dona gaia
tro q’un i snell mes sagier aia
del vostre bell cors, qi.m retraia
plazer novell q’amors m’atraia
e jaia e.m traia vas vos
dona veraia,
e chaia de plaia .lgelos,
anz qe.m n’estraia.
A
A
B
B
C
C
Neither May Day nor the beech tree’s leaves nor the song of birds nor gladiolus flowers are pleasing to
me, noble and vivacious lady, until I receive a swift messenger from your fair person to tell me of some
new pleasure that love brings me; and may I be joined to you and drawn toward you, perfect lady; and
may the jealous fall stricken before I must leave you.
Stanza 2
Mabell’ amia,
per Dieu non sia
qe ja.l gelos de mon danria,
88
A
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qe car vendria,
sa gelozia
si aitals dos amantz partia,
q’ieu ja joios mais non seria,
ni jois ses vos pro no.m tenria;
tal via faria q’oms ja
mais no.m veiria;
cell dia moria donna pros,
q’ie.us perdria.
A
B
B
C
C
My sweet beloved, for the sake of God, may the jealous one never laugh at my pain, for his jealousy
would be very costly if it were to separate two such lovers; for I would never be joyful again, not would
joy be of any benefit to me without you; I would set out on such a road that no one would ever see me
again; on that day would I die, worthy lady, that I lost you.
Stanza 3
Con er perduda,
ni m’er renduda
donna, s’enanz non l’ai aguda?
Qe drutz ni druda
non es per cuda,
mas qant amantz en drut si muda,
l’onors es granz qe.l n’es creguda,
e.l bels semblanz fai far tal bruda;
qe nuda enguda no.us ai,
ni d’als vencuda,
vol guda, cresuda vos ai
ses autr’ ajuda.
A
A
B
B
C
C
How shall my lady be lost, or restored to me, if she has not yet been mine? For a man or woman is not a
lover just by thinking so. But when a suitor is accepted as a lover, the reputation that he gains is greatly
enhanced, and the attractive appearance causes much stir; but I have not held you naked nor conquered
you in any other sense; I have only desired you and believed in you, without any further encouragement.
[stanzas 4 and 5 omitted on recording]
Stanza 6
Dona grazida,
qecs lauz’e crida
vostra valor q’es ‘abelli da,
e qi.us oblida,
pauc li val vida,
per q’ieus azor, don’eissernida
gar per gençor vos ai chauzida
e per meilhor de prez complida,
blandida, servida genses
q’Erecs Enida.
Bastida, finida, n’Engles,
ai l’estampida.
A
A
B
B
C
C
Worthy lady, everyone praises and proclaims your merit which is so pleasing; and whoever would forget
you places little value on life; therefore I worship you, distinguished lady, for I have singled you out as the
most pleasing and the best, accomplished in worth, and I have courted you and served you better than
Eric did Enide. Lord Engles [Boniface, marquis of Montferrat], I have constructed and completed the
estampida.
89