French music boasts an illustrious heritage spanning various styles. Ranging from romantic chanson featuring iconic singers such as Serge Gainsbourg to impressionist compositions by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, French music has long captivated audiences worldwide.
From Machaut to Hayne van Ghizeghem and up until the early 17th century, French music was dominated by accompanied chanson, which consisted of vocal pieces with written parts for instrumental accompaniment.
Languedoc
Languedoc is a broad, sunny Mediterranean region renowned for its rolling hills and olive groves, fortified cities and crumbling castles, hearty cuisine and independent art scene. Home of Toulouse-Lautrec as well as expansive vineyards that produce fine wine.
In most of Herault, Lozere and Gard, Roman Catholicism predominates; other religions can also be found there as well as many Freemasons.
Languedoc-Roussillon vineyards have earned themselves the nickname of being “patchworks” due to their wide array of grape varieties planted per field. Red blends made with Grenache, Syrah and Carignan are among its best-known wines; but Languedoc also produces unoaked zesty white wines; sparkling Cremant de Limoux wines; as well as sweet Muscat-based vins doux naturels – which may surprise you!
Roussillon
Roussillon is one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, boasting rustic red hills and brightly-hued houses in shades of ochre that make a striking first impression as you approach its doorstep. Its technicolour facade of 17 shades of yellows and oranges serves as a vivid reminder of its history as an ochre quarry (you can learn all about its significance at Le Conservatoire des Ocres et Pigments Appliques).
Provence wouldn’t be complete without its romantic legend: Lord Raymond de Castell-Rossello fell hopelessly in love with Seramonde, an exquisite young troubadour who ran away to Roussillon to be with him – only for tragedy to strike and lead her off cliffs to suicide there, leaving a permanent mark in Roussillon landscape today. Her blood now colors this gorgeous place with vibrant hues.
Southwestern France is also known as French Catalonia, where music influenced by both French and Gypsy cultures can be found. Sardana dance is traditionally performed here by brass and wind bands known as cobles.
Auvergne
Auvergne is a mountainous region in central France with strong Occitan-influenced cultural ties, best known for its Occitan dance forms (bourrees, circle or chain dance tunes with caller/response singing), but also for its grand cornemuse bagpipe traditions (sound clip left: Louis Jarraud’s “L’ame entendre”).
Joseph Canteloube hails from this region. His Songs of Auvergne (Chants d’Auvergne) are lavishly orchestrated pieces which demonstrate his creativity and humor as an artist in farming and cheese making in a landscape marked by rolling hills and rugged ravines.
Among the acclaimed musicians from this region are Thierry Bertrand on veuze and Pierre Grimaldi with his soulful singing. One distinctive characteristic of music from this region is its distinct melisma – melodies often resolve in less straightforward fashion than they would normally in North Western France; Breton music also shares this feature.
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is known for its lush emerald-green landscapes dotted with historic chateaux and rolling vineyards, while Nantes, its capital city, is known for Gothic cathedrals as well as being home to Jules Verne-themed museums and attractions such as its Atlantic beaches with peaceful coves and lively fishing ports.
The region is well known for its cheeses, including Tomme de Chouans (External link), which features a mild cow’s milk variety with an attractive yellow rind and sweet taste. Rillettes (a conserve of salted and cured pork served on bread) is another local delicacy.
Since 1971, the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire has earned international renown and an extensive catalog of recordings. Additionally, its nameakening region of Loire also boasts an abundance of traditional folk dancing such as courante and bal saintongeais dances along with triple time circle or chain-dances known as bourrees that include caller-and-response singing; unique culinary offerings like Vendean mogettes Vendee and garlic-flavored bread also add character. Additionally, its founder Yeye first created his style of French pop music during this era!