The musical traditions from County of Nice: Music introduction - Cross-over
Popular songs - Animal songs - Racy lovesongs - Work songs
Political, social and satirical songs - Contemporary songs
Carnival tunes - Circumstance tunes - Close couple dances - Characters dances - Farandole - Feasts - Round dances of May
Music for children
Chimes & knells - Sacred & religious music - Christmas carols from County of Nice - Sanctuaries

Brief survey of the traditional musics from the South of France: The Occitany - Limoux’ carnival tunes
The Piedmont - The Provence - Christmas carols from Provence

Other countries

Legend (click icons, on the left side of tunes title, to access to corresponding files):
		“fife & drums” MIDI file (a)(b).			“brass band” MIDI file (a)(b).			“other instruments” MIDI file (a)(b).
		score: PDF file (a)(b).			lyrics.
You may download MIDI and scores files as a whole from the Download page. (a)Without any further observation, arrangements and harmonizations by J.-G. Maurandi. (b) These files and their content are © 2001-2025 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

1. The shepherdesses
2. The peasant women
3. ... and all the young girls
4. The May songs

The traditional songs displayed on this page have been –for the most part of them– composed and published in 19th century or early 20th century. Some songs created after 1960 ^(a) are presented on the page Contemporary songs.

(a) This year corresponds to the publishing by Georges Delrieu of his Anthologie de la chanson niçoise.

Alternately gallant and seducing songs, lovesongs sometimes harrowing, romantic or languorous ballades, laments or threnodies, sentimental or bantering ballads, telling – always with subtlety ⁽¹⁾ – desire or hope, wisdom or audacity, sadness or pique, traditional tunes from County of Nice give female mob more than her due, where girls are sometimes mocked, and more often lusted after!

In the continuity of pastourelles from the Middle Ages, the shepherdesses, spinresses, swineherdesses, and other animal keepresses in the meadows are convoked in the traditional songs from County of Nice not because of their job or their outdoor activities, but owing to their –presumed– charms and the desires these charms arouse for men!

Bouòn jou, Nanoun (Good morning, Ann). The lovely shepherdess hides a little brazen girl... Traditional song from Guillaumes, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lou dangié d’amour (The Danger of Love). Her lover has abandoned Margaret, she finds consolation with the little shepherd... Nissart lyrics and music by Pierre Devoluy. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Eh ! Bonjour, bergère ! (Hey! Good Morning, Shepherdess!) The shepherdess don’t let herself be overawed... Traditional song from Villars-sur-Var, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Ma bruneta (My brunette). A lesson of women’s underwear... Traditional song from L’Escarène, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Pastoura (The Shepherdess). The eyes of a peasant woman met one’s of a tramp, softening him. Nissart lyrics and music by Louis Genari. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Pastressa e lou Granadié (The Shepherdess and the Grenadier). As did Penelope, Nathalie doesn’t recognize at once her lover, coming back from war. Traditional song from val d’Entraunes, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Rouseta filava (Rosy was spinning). While spinning, Rosy was weepping, waiting for her beautiful soldier. She comforts herself with what she disposes of: her distaff... Nissart lyrics and music by Joseph Passeron. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Rouseta la pastressa (Rosy the shepherdess). The pretty shepherdess is not to be sold... Nissart lyrics and music by Joseph Passeron. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Segnour e pastressa (Lord and shepherdess). The young shepherdess prefers her lover. Nissart lyrics by Joseph Giordan, known as Jousé Giordan. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.

The peasant women and the young girls having an activity in the fields and the meadows... just as some seducers!

La Catarineta (The Ladybird). Just an excuse for a discovery... Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Fillo amé la maire (The Daughter with her Mother). While being casual, this humorous song hides a real thought regarding old age. Traditional song from Guillaumes, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lou Flahut (The Small Flute). Johnny got it since he was born... Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
L’Ome e lo Gran (The Man and the Wheat). The daughter doesn’t want to share her find with her mother. Traditional song from Sospel, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Paisana (The Peasant Woman). Traditional song from the Vesubie valley, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lou Segaire (The Mower). He reaps not only wheat... Nissart lyrics and music by Joseph Passeron. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.

... and all the young girls, the good-looking, the not so pretty, the ones of easy virtue, the simple, the crafties, the ingenuous... women of mature years... florilegium of the Nissart ideal of feminity!

L’Afreioulida (The Girl sensitive to cold). She found some means to warm herself up, once winter come... Nissart lyrics and music by Louis Genari. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
À la puada de Cimiès (At the rise of Cimiez). The belle danced too much at Saint-Roch’s feast... Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
À Utel’ ia trenta filha (In the village of Utelle, there are thirty girls). Thirty jealous girls... Traditional song from Utelle, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Bella santa fourtuna (Fine and holy fortune). The honeymoon ends at L’Eau fraîche (The Cool Water) pub. Traditional song from Thierry, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Ben Caussada (The Well-Fitted). She finds a suitable match. Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Bionda, bella bionda (Blonde, Pretty Blonde).
Lou Cagancio (The Youngest Child, or The Last-Born). Love duet between Pin Squissa et Clara de La Vergando. Nissart lyrics by Jules Eynaudi, known as Juli Eynaudi, music by J. Autié. Traditional from County of Nice. .
Calant de Vilafranca (Going down from Villefranche-sur-Mer). Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Calignèra (The Sweetheart). Nissart lyrics by Franck Pilatte, known as Nouncle Gibas, music by Hyacinthe Tarelli, known as Cinto Tarelli. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Cantas fiheta ! (Sing, little girl!) The pretty young girl is in despair to see her lover again. Traditional song from Peille, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Digo, Jeanneto (Hey Jeannette).
En calan de Cimiès (Going down from Cimiez hill). Nissart lyrics by Jouan Nicola. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Li Estela (The Stars). Under the cover of its darkness, it’s easy to believe that the moon is made of green cheese... Traditional song from Coaraze, County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Fiha dòu chapacan (The dog-snarer’s daughter). It isn’t explained in this song how Katherine succeeds in her life, in spite of her clumsinesses... Nissart lyrics by Ludovic Badat, music by André Montagard and Georges Roux. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Masurca souta l’oulivié (Mazurka under the olive tree). Tryst... on Tuesday! Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Per la miéu dama (For my Lady). Nissart lyrics by Jules Eynaudi, known as Juli Eynaudi, music by Auguste Gilli. Traditional from County of Nice. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Poulalhera (The Poultrymaid).
Lou Pous (The Well). Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi. See also Lou Galant dins lou pous.
Quel mazzolin di fiori (This small bunch of flowers).
Rau tau plau la vielha (Crash! the old woman). In Paris, a 70 years old woman was playing drum... Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Rouseta de Nanoun (Ann’s small rose). It’s sweet, it’s a pretty button... to be touched only with the eyes... Nissart lyrics and music by François-Dominique Rondelly, known as Menica Rondelly. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lou roussignòu que vola (The Flying Nightingale). Would the young and thrifty oranges salesgirl meet Zeus’ avatar?
La Saumeta endemoniada (The boisterous she-ass), satirical song about spouses’ infidelity.
Sus lou prat (On the meadow). A few young girls confide amongst themselves, while waiting for their lovers. Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Lou Tint dòu moulin (The Tick-Tock of the Watermill). Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
La Tradija dël soldà (The Treachery of the soldier).
Lou Vièi Defici (The Old Watermill). A kiss and then... nothing left! Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice, MIDI scheduling by J.-G. Maurandi.
Viouleta (Violet).
Zoli coeur (Sweet Heart).

The young girls also inspired some May songs:
Venès virà lou mai (Let Come and Dance the May).

1. “It’s in the traditional and rural society, place of life, elaboration, interpretation and transformation of the song, that we meet the finest, the most colourful and the most poetical licentious songs of popular making.” (J.-F. Dutertre, L’Enfer de la chanson traditionnelle.)

Legend (click icons, on the left side of tunes title, to access to corresponding files):
		“fife & drums” MIDI file (a)(b).			“brass band” MIDI file (a)(b).			“other instruments” MIDI file (a)(b).
		score: PDF file (a)(b).			lyrics.
You may download MIDI and scores files as a whole from the Download page. (a)Without any further observation, arrangements and harmonizations by J.-G. Maurandi. (b) These files and their content are © 2001-2025 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

© 2001-2025 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

The musical traditions from County of Nice: Music introduction - Cross-over
Popular songs - Animal songs - Racy lovesongs - Work songs
Political, social and satirical songs - Contemporary songs
Carnival tunes - Circumstance tunes - Close couple dances - Characters dances - Farandole - Feasts - Round dances of May
Music for children
Chimes & knells - Sacred & religious music - Christmas carols from County of Nice - Sanctuaries

Brief survey of the traditional musics from the South of France: The Occitany - Limoux’ carnival tunes
The Piedmont - The Provence - Christmas carols from Provence

Other countries