Composer

:

Moniot d'Arras

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

ca. 1213 - 1239

Average_duration

:

2:42

"Ce fut en mai" is a medieval French song composed by Moniot d'Arras, a trouvère who lived in the 13th century. The song is believed to have been composed in the early 13th century, although the exact date is unknown. It is one of the most famous songs of the trouvère tradition and has been performed and recorded by many musicians over the centuries. The song is a love song, and it tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a beautiful woman in the month of May. The song is divided into three movements, each of which tells a different part of the story. The first movement describes the young man's initial encounter with the woman. He sees her walking in a garden, and he is immediately struck by her beauty. He falls in love with her at first sight and is filled with joy and happiness. The second movement describes the young man's attempts to win the woman's love. He sings to her, he writes her love letters, and he tries to impress her with his skills and talents. However, the woman remains indifferent to his advances, and he becomes increasingly frustrated and despondent. The third movement describes the young man's final realization that he will never win the woman's love. He accepts his fate and resigns himself to a life of loneliness and despair. The song ends with a poignant lament for lost love and a plea for mercy from God. "Ce fut en mai" is a typical example of the trouvère tradition, which was a form of medieval French poetry and music that flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. The trouvères were poets and musicians who composed songs and poems in the vernacular French language, and their works were often performed at courtly gatherings and other social events. The music of "Ce fut en mai" is characterized by its simple melody and repetitive structure, which is typical of the trouvère tradition. The song is performed with a single voice and a simple accompaniment, usually a lute or a harp. Overall, "Ce fut en mai" is a beautiful and poignant love song that captures the spirit of the medieval French troubadour tradition. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring power of love and the enduring appeal of great music.

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