Canso (song)

A canso (Occitan: canso; Catalan: cançó; Old Portuguese/Galician: cançon) is a lyric poem, and one of the most important forms of Old Occitan literature. It is closely associated with the troubadours and the tradition of courtly love.

A canso typically consists of five to seven stanzas (called coblas) of equal length, each followed by a tornada (or envoi). The tornada is a shorter stanza, usually half the length of the cobla, and typically sums up the poem or addresses a patron or a specific person.

The themes of a canso are most often related to love, particularly courtly love, although other topics such as morality, politics, and nature could also be explored. The language is usually refined and elaborate, and the structure highly formalized, adhering to strict rhyme schemes and metrical patterns. The rhyme scheme is usually consistent throughout the poem.

The canso played a crucial role in the development of lyric poetry in Europe, influencing later forms in other languages, including the Italian canzone and other song forms in French, Spanish, and Portuguese. While the exact origins of the canso are debated, it is believed to have originated in the 11th or 12th century in Occitania (Southern France). Notable troubadours known for their cansos include William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, Jaufre Rudel, Bernart de Ventadorn, and Arnaut Daniel.