France boasts a long and distinguished musical tradition, connecting many styles from around the globe in vibrant hybrid forms such as Haitian compas of Kassav’ and fast jump-up carnival beat of Zouk.
Central France’s Auvergne and Limousin regions feature rich folk music traditions like the cabrette bagpipe and hurdy gurdy; as well as strong Celtic influences that manifest themselves through dances such as the bourree dance.
Chanson Francaise
Chanson Francaise (literally French song) is an artform that blends music with poetry. Sometimes the words carry more weight than melody – Charles Aznavour was famous for saying so himself when talking about chanson music: good lyrics matter more than music.”
Chansons have often been employed as a vehicle for social commentary, such as Edith Piaf’s depictions of Parisian sparrows or Jacques Brel’s humorous songs about life on the waterfront. Chansons allow for dense lyrical content without repetitive choruses typical of American or British pop songs and serve as an ideal vehicle for artistic expression such as Dalida or Brigitte Fontaine’s literary realism or naturalism respectively.
The chanson experienced a surge of popularity during the 1920s due to the rising influence of Montmartre chanteuses realiste, who performed wearing black dresses and red lipstick to emphasize emotive facial expressions. Additionally, its influence was felt through new naturalism and literary realism movements focused on portraying how one’s environment and experiences affected and formed character.
Musette
Musette is an extremely complex instrument: bellows-blown and with cane reeds constructed specifically to fit its small cylindrical bore, it presents unique acoustic challenges when compared with instruments with conical bores such as flute, oboe and recorder.
The musette was an instrument suitable for professional players as well as amateurs; music written for it ranged from transcriptions of popular dance tunes (such as folk-dances in Borjon de Scellery’s Traite or songs from current operas in Hotteterre’s Methode) to intricate compositions that could go from simple transcriptions of popular tunes (such as folk dances in Borjon de Scellery’s Traite or songs from recent operas in Hotteterre’s Methode), to highly sophisticated compositions – partly due to being fully chromatic instrument that required an elaborate barrel drone that contained multiple possible and tunable reeds.
David the Younger Tenier’s masterpiece “The Musette-Player”, depicting this intricate instrument, beautifully illustrates it through its combination of Flemish Baroque art style with music history and social history. Not only is this painting remarkable artisan’s work; but also provides us with insight into music in 17th century Parisian life.
Roussillon
Roussillon village’s colourful buildings boast 17 different hues of ochre paint that create a technicolour wonderland hard to match anywhere else. Ochre was an essential component of Roussillon heritage until the 20th century, providing jobs and inspiring many artists alike.
Village is also well known for its wine production. With its hilltop setting and proximity to growers of high-crop carbonic-macerated Carignan, its hilltop setting makes it a prime place for vineyards to cultivate large crops carbonic macerated Carignan grapes. An influx of ambitious “neo-vignerons” has further raised quality perceptions while helping create an estate wine culture in the region.
Wander the charming squares and streets, stopping to shop local produce at the weekly Thursday Market before visiting the top of the village to visit the orientation table and admire a magnificent panorama over Vaucluse Mountains including Mont Ventoux. Plus learn about Ochre’s uses at Conservatory of Ochres and Applied Pigments set up inside an old Ochre Factory!
Languedoc
Languedoc in Languedoc served as a haven for Cathars, an offshoot Christian sect in the Middle Ages. Languedoc castles remain as reminders of turbulent times that saw sieges and massacres during this era.
At present, the region specializes primarily in producing red wines crafted from a combination of Grenache, Mourvedre and old carignan grape varieties. A small amount of rose is also produced as well as increasingly interesting whites from Roussanne, Marsanne and Picpoul grape varieties.
Wines of Languedoc reflect its landscape from Provence to the eastern Pyrenees, with freshness and intensity that is both modern and traditional. This is particularly evident among the better producers who have abandoned the old appellation system of Coteaux du Languedoc in favor of creating their own names such as Christophe Roisier’s red “Les Cades,” made entirely with Grenache Mourvedre Carignan blend called Lithosis that produces intense ripe fruits with notes of spiced and herb aromas along with enough tannin for pairing perfectly with juicy steak or cassoulet dishes.