France has been the center for European Art and music for a long time. The European country has a rich history in Music. Its music history can be traced back to Organum in the 10th century. The Notre Dame School, an organum composition style was quite popular. Towards the end of the 12th century, motet became quite popular. Travelling musicians called troubadours became were also a part of French musical history. Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior are other two popular French music styles.
The various kinds of music in France are Folk music, classical music and popular music. In the country, there's a wide variety of indigenous folk music. There have been many legendary composers in the field of classical music. Over the years, there has been a rise of French rock, hip-hop, techno/funk and pop performers. In regions such as Brittany, Limousin, Gascony, Corsica and Auvergne there was popularization of folk music. The forms of Popular Music in France are Rock (Progressive Rock and 1980s), Hip Hop and Rai.
In remote areas such as the Island of Corsica and mountainous Auvergne, Basques and Bretons are some places where the traditional styles of music of France have survived.
In Central France, the bagpipe tradition, the iconic hurdy gurdy and the dance bourree flourished in Auvergne, Limousin, Morvan, Nivernais, Bourbonnais and Berry. The cabrette and grande cornemuses from Auvergne and Berry are popular.
French musicians like Charles Gounod, Cesar Franck and Carmen-creator georges Bizet were popular in the 19th century. Claude Debussy was popular for his classical music.
Jazz became popular in Paris in the 1920s. After World War I, musicians like Sidney Bechet, Kenny Clarke, Bud Powell and Dexter Gordon became popular. It was in 1930s that Piaf and Charles Trenet became popular. The Left Bank Cabarets became popular in the 1950s. At that time cabaret singers such as Leo Ferre, Georges Brassens, Claude Nougaro, Jacques Brel and Serge Gainsbourg were popular.
Gradually, over the years, French pop music has evolved tremendously. During 1960s, Johnny Halliday was popular for his yeye.
As far as contemporary French music is concerned Parisian electronic music from bands such as Daft Punk and Air are popular.
|
