Kalenda maya!

“Kalenda maya!” by Psalteria is a beautiful example of a medieval troubadour song, filled with the longing and passion characteristic of courtly love. The lyrics, written in Old Occitan, reflect the deep emotions of a lover who is separated from his beloved. The song opens with a vivid description of the natural world, mentioning the month of May, flowers, and birds, which are traditional symbols of love and renewal. However, the singer quickly reveals that these natural beauties do not bring him joy because he is yearning for a message from his beloved lady, whose beauty and grace captivate him completely.

The song continues to express the lover's deep desire for a sign of affection from his lady. He wishes for a swift messenger to bring him news from her, which would bring him new pleasure and draw him closer to her. The repeated use of the word “playa” (pleases) emphasizes the lover's intense longing and the joy he would feel upon receiving her love. The lover also expresses his disdain for jealousy, hoping that the jealous ones will fall before they can cause him any harm. This reflects the troubadour tradition of elevating the beloved lady to an almost divine status, while also highlighting the obstacles and societal pressures that can come between true lovers.

In the final stanza, the lover pleads with his beloved not to let jealousy come between them. He fears that if jealousy were to separate them, he would never be joyful again. The lover's devotion is so profound that he declares he would rather die than live without his beloved. This intense expression of love and devotion is a hallmark of troubadour poetry, where the lover often places the beloved on a pedestal and expresses a willingness to endure any hardship for the sake of love. Psalteria's rendition of “Kalenda maya!” captures the essence of this medieval tradition, bringing the timeless themes of love, longing, and devotion to a modern audience.