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Genre

Gab

World Traditional Verse Forms

A gab or gap is a troubadour boasting song. It is often considered related to the tenso and partimen, two types of debate poem. Sometimes the gab is not considered a separate genre of poetry but simply a boast found within another genre, commonly the sirventes.

Facts
Partially Attested
Place of Origin
Occitania 1
Source names the gab as a troubadour boasting song with an Old Occitan name; Occitania is inferred and no place of origin is stated.
Notable Example
Ben vuelh by William IX of Aquitaine (the first gab) 1
Defining Trait
Boasting song, innately competitive, with the boast often presented as a challenge 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Gab (song)
  • Lead, first sentence
    is a troubadour boasting song
  • Lead, first-gab sentence
    composed by William IX of Aquitaine (died 1126)
  • Lead, competitiveness sentence
    innately competitive and the boast is often presented as a challenge
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