“I want to make people cry even when they don’t understand my words.” Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
From jazz to rock, from pop to rap, the hugely varied and diverse genre, French Chansons started to take shape at the end of the 19th century, and was immediately a huge hit amongst young and old alike. Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover all the greatest French Chanson hits with Stretta today!
At the end of the 19th century, the first French Chansons, cabaret songs emerged, which were already very different from the popular classical French Song and French Opera. Cafes, variety shows became venues to showcase French Chanson, and some of the most famous venues are still known today, Moulin Rouge, Les Folies Bergères, Le Chat Noir and L’Olympia.
In the 1930s, one of the greatest idols of French Chanson came to the fore, Édith Piaf, whose name was soon on everyone’s lips in France and abroad. She was followed by other popular artists such as Yves Montand, Henri Salvador, Annie Cordy and many others.
At the same time, singers like Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens were more inspired by literary, emotionally committed texts.
The 1960s saw the birth of rock music, which came mainly from the United States, and with it came the age of fans, who followed their idols such as Johnny Hallyday, Claude François, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy and many others. They were nicknamed “yéyés”, which came from the English“ yeah”, from the Beatles “She Loves You”. Thanks to these stars, the record market experienced a legendary boom.
At the end of 1970, it was the ’rock opera’ by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon Starmania which paved the way for the genre of French musical comedy. It was followed by ’Notre Dame de Paris’, ’The Ten Commandments’, ’Romeo and Juliet’ and many others.
At the end of the century, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Mylène Farmer revolutionized the French music video, while the Canadian Céline Dion achieved international success with the release of the world’s best-selling French-language album “D’eux”, written and produced by JJ Goldman.
In the early 2000s, singers emerged, mostly from musicals, such as Garou and Lara Fabian, but the focus soon shifted back to singers with literary texts like Raphaël, Carla Bruni and Bénabar, who were hugely successful.
The Belgian singer Stromae made a name for himself on the French music scene in 2013 with his album “Racine Carré”, the best-selling album of the decade. His unique style highlights the elaborate texts that are reminiscent of those of his compatriot Jacques Brel.
Today, urban music that emerged in the 90s is the mainstay of French Chanson, with Maître Gims, Soprano and Sexion d’Assaut, among others.
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 756199
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 739705
für Klavier/Gesang/Gitarre
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Single edition
Item no.: 581799
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 446285
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 770374
pour flûte et piano
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 630877
Klassik
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 240179
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 204971
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 404845
Eine Geschichte des französischen Chansons bis zum Ausgang des 19. Jahrhunderts
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 470667
Extrait du film Peau d'Âne
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 563692
for: Guitar
Book, CD
Item no.: 576033
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 603135
Collection Music en Poche
for: Melodyline, Guitar and Piano
Book
Item no.: 337178
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Book
Item no.: 335311
für Klavier
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 414513
The well-known popular song with words in both English and French.
Music score
Item no.: 417508
for: Guitar
Songbook (with lyrics and chords – without notes)
Item no.: 340042
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324016
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760579
10 Chansons
for: Piano
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 218457
Vocal Jazz Series
Item no.: 619881
ALB
A collection of 50 songs including 'Brave Margot', 'Le Petit Cheval', 'Les Amoureux Des Bancs Publics', 'Les Croquants' and 'Un Jolie Fleur'.
Music score
Item no.: 155907
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 107238
songbook piano/vocal/guitar
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook
Item no.: 658731
Grands Interprètes (Carisch)
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 466703
Klassik
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 181395
Le Pupitre - Heugel
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 240136
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 1317541
La Mer
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1190213
10 Chansons
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook (with lyrics and chords – without notes)
Item no.: 153565
Item no.: 609460
Pop und Rock
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1354270
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 594195
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 372069
Un double recueil de 30 titres d´Yves Duteil
Chant, piano ou guitare
Item no.: 617433
21 Chansons
for: Voice, guitar
Songbook (with lyrics and chords – without notes)
Item no.: 1031701
Partition
Songbook
Item no.: 630689
Recueil de 110 succès
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 358588
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324177
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324175
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook (melody, lyrics, chords)
Item no.: 274704
Le 25e anniversaire des Productions d'OZ célébré par 25 compositeurs (CD included)
for: Guitar
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 622541
for: Keyboard
Music score
Item no.: 648898
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 722919
30 Chansons – Paroles et Musique originales
for: Voice (medium), piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 225364
(Heimat und Heimatlosigkeit)
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 757349