The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #400 Message #2331369
Posted By: Joe Offer
02-May-08 - 02:22 PM
Thread Name: Req/ADD: French folk songs
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
Another from Monique:
Here is the midi for the shanty "Le 31 du mois d'août." According to Jean-Claude Klein (Florilège de la chanson française- Bordas) this song would be one of the many that would tell Surcouf's feats of arms against the British ships in the 19th century. The line "À la santé du roi de France" (to the King of France's health) would indicate that the song was written after Napoleon's Empire.
Also: AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER!
This song is of Canadian origin. A "moine" is also a toy, a kind of spinning top, hence the play on words. In some versions instead of enumerating a monk's things, music instruments are enumerated.
Monique