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The term French Songs can be used in the broadest cultural sense to include all the geographical areas that fall within the influence of the French language. It also falls within the influence of some of the composers who are of non-French origin but those who have worked in France.
The medieval secular French songs consisted almost entirely of the songs of the troubadours and trouveres. These were basically poet-musicians who flourished from the period of the late 11th century right until the 13th century. One of the most famous group of poet singers was the famous Adam de la Halle.
This group was responsible for the creation of the musical forms such as the lai and the ballade. A ballade is a setting of a poem, which contains a refrain at the end of each stanza.
Also active during the same period was another group called the jongleurs. The jongleurs were a set of roving minstrels who were into performing the courtly love lyrics kind of French songs of the troubadours.
In the initial period of the Renaissance style of the French songs in the period of the 15th century, the center of musical activity shifted from Paris to Burgundy, which was at that point of time a different state altogether.
By the late 15th century the musical supremacy of the French songs was taken over by the Flemish musicians. The French songs were never again able to dominate the music scene as they had during the Middle Ages.
Between the two world wars the French songs such as the later work of Albert Roussel was often referred to as the "neo-classical" style of music. This style of the French songs was direct, simple, and accessible.
Erik Satie was a major composer of the French songs of the time. Also some other prominent composers of the French songs were the several of the group of young musicians who constantly gathered around him and were popularly referred to as "Les Six".
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