Jouons tous ensemble!

C’est Gugusse

La mistenlaire

Le plus nous sommes ensembles

Un soir dans sa cabane

Dans le bois

Dans la forêt lointaine

Enfilons les aiguiles du bois

La secouette

Le furet du bois

Nous n’irons plus au bois

En avant!

Chevaliers de la table ronde

Fanfan la Tulipe

Le chevalier du Guet

Les fourmis marchent

Last updated: 11/17/2015 4:21 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Allons-y!’ The French collection

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

To listen to music from these songs click on O

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

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C’est Gugusse O

A lively song played by village fiddlers and danced in Champagne, Vosges and the Lorraine departments of France since the Second Empire.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDmrtV6mMi4&feature=related

Children each take a partner and stand in a circle holding hands with ‘Gugusse’ in the centre.

Refrain C’est Gugusse avec son violon, Qui fais danser les filles, x2 C’est Gugusse avec son violon, Qui fais danser les filles et les garcons. Here is Gugusse with his violin, Ready for the dancing, x2 Here is Gugusse with his violin, So everyone can dance to his cheerful tunes. Mon papa ne veut pas, Que je danse, que je danse, Mon papa ne veut pas, Que je danse la polka! Refrain My papa, my mama, Say, “Don’t go dancing, don’t go dancing.” My papa, my mama, Say, “Don’t go dancing the polka.” Il dira c’qu’il voudra, Moi je danse, moi je danse, Il dira c’qu’il voudra, Moi, je danse la polka! Refrain They can say, “Fa la la!” I’ll go dancing, I’ll go dancing, They can say, “Fa la la!” I love dancing the polka!

‘Gugusse’ stands in the centre playing the violin while the circle walks round to the left, changing direction on the second phrase. The circle stops. Gugusse stands facing a child of his choosing. The children shake fore fingers in front of the face in time to the music. In addition they can turn on the spot stamping. Gugusse dances with the chosen partner. The others dance facing each other holding hands. Hopping from one foot to the other swinging the other foot across body. If a child is left partnerless they clap hands. Gugusse’s partner becomes the next Gugusse and chooses a new instrument to play. Gugusse joins the partnerless child.

La mistenlaire O

This dance, known as ‘Bransle Gay’ in the 16^th century, was popular at weddings, banquets and public holidays especially through the 17^th century.

A cumulative game song where the participants mime playing the various instruments. Others might include: mistenaccordéon, misteviolin, mistencaisse. Finish with the first couplet. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-2SR2DSjKc

Dites-nous bonhommes, Que savez-vous faire? Savez-vous jouer de la mistenlaire? Laire laire laire, de la mistenlaire! Ah! Ah! Ah! Que savez-vous faire? Tell us gentlefolk, What is it you’d like to play? Can you play the lyre? Listen as we play for you. Lyre, lyre, lyre, listen to the lyre! Ah! Ah! Ah! Tell us what you’d like to play. 2. Flûte, flûte, flûte, de la mistenflûte! Laire, laire, laire, de la mistenlaire! 3. Trompe, trompe, trompe, de la mistentrompe! Flûte, flûte, flûte, de la mistenflûte! Laire, laire, laire, de la mistenlaire! 4. Terre, terre, terre, un genoux en terre! Trompe… 5. Terre, terre, terre, les deux genoux à terre! Trompe…

Dance in a circle four steps to the left, four steps to the right. Move hands back and forth alternately round the circle. Stand still; mime the playing of a lyre. Clap hands three times above head while turning round on the spot. As above playing lyre, flute and then trumpet cumulatively. Place one knee on the ground and play instruments in sequence. Place two knees on the ground and mime as above.

Le plus nous serons ensemble O

Sing this cheerful little song in one of many languages, here it is in French. The lyrics remind us of the value of friendship and teamwork.

Try this song using the names of children in each group in the third line:

‘Nous avons Lois et Georgia et William et Dylan’

Le plus nous serons ensemble, ensemble, ensemble, Le plus nous serons ensemble, Le plus hereux nous serons. The more we get together, together, together, The more we get together, the happier we will be. Et mon ami est ton ami, Et ton ami est mon ami, For your friends are my friends, And my friends are your friends. Le plus nous serons ensemble, Le plus hereux nous serons. The more we get together, the happier we will be.

Facing partner hold hands. Swing arms and feet from side to side. Still holding hands swing arms over heads and turn around and through to face partner. Join hands with a second pair and skip round in a circle, left then right. Swap partners to make a new pairing. Continue game.

Un soir dans sa cabane O

A popular camping song in the French and English speaking world where it is sung as ‘Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah’ with the chorus of ‘Fee-fi-fiddley-i-o’.

Children love songs with nonsense words and phrases and even the youngest will pick up the words of the chorus quickly. Substitute with other phrases: eg Boum chiqua, boum chiqua, boum ha-ha! or Oumbala, oumbals, oum oh, oh!

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-pN7Or-yVQ&NR=1

Begin in groups of three. Two children hold hands to make a house for the third child who stands inside. Swap roles at the beginning of each verse so each have a turn as the little man in the centre.

Un soir dans sa cabane, Un tout petit petit bonhomme, *Jouait de la guitare, Olé olé olé oh banjo! One evening in his cabin, There lived a little man so charming, His guitar he did strum, Olé olé olé oh banjo! Chorus Zoum bala zoum bala zoum bam bam x3 Olé olé olé oh ha-ha! In the next verses substitute* with the lines below: Mangeait une banane A banana he did eat Dormait sur sa paillaise On a mattress he did sleep Last chorus ends: Olé olé olé oh!

Each pair hold hands and skip round the little man who mimes playing a guitar. The three then stand in a tight circle and clap to the beat of ‘ zoum bala zoum bala zoum’, clapping hands of those on both sides to ‘bam bam’. The next in the circle dramatises the actions. When confident make more complex clapping patterns.

Dans la forêt lointaine O

In this familiar song children mime the actions of the birds, animals and trees. Aim to make the singing and acting atmospheric by setting the scene beforehand.

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFbDg1v7l4&feature=related

Dans la forêt lointaine, On entend le coucou. Du haut de son grand chêne, }x2 Il répond au hibou. Coucou couou, Coucou hibou coucou. Dans la forêt lointaine, On n’a pas peur du loup. Car aux pieds des grands chênes }x2 Il ne peut rien du tout. Coucou coucou, Coucou le loup coucou. Dans la forêt secrète , L’écureuil dait le fou. Pour manger des noisettes }x2 Il se cassera le cou. Coucou cuckoo, Bel l’écureuil coucou. Dans la forêt lointaine, Venez tous avec nous. Nous cueillerons des graines }x2 Du gui et puis du houx. Coucou coucou, Coucou hibou coucou.

Way down in yonder forest, Just hear the cuckoo sing. As high up in the oak tree, }x2 An owl replies to him. Cuckoo, cuckoo, Cuckoo, whoo-hoo, cuckoo. Way down in yonder forest, The wolf you need not fear, The great oak roots will hide you, }x2 There is no need for tears. Cuckoo, cuckoo, Cuckoo, old wolf, cuckoo. Deep in the secret forest, Red squirrel goes crazy He’s eating all those pine nuts, }x2 He’ll break his neck you’ll see! Cuckoo, cuckoo, Lovely squirrel cuckoo. Way down in yonder forest, We’ll show you where to go. We’ll gather berries, holly, }x2 And wreaths of mistletoe. Cuckoo, cuckoo, Cuckoo, whoo-hoo, cuckoo.

Enfilons les aiguilles de bois O

A game played in a similar manner to ‘The alley alley O’.

Children stand in line holding hands, the one at the end places their hand against a wall to form an arch. The leader (the needle) threads the line through that arch so the last person to go under will find their arms now cross their chest. The game continues with the needle threading through subsequent arches until all children have crossed arms. The two end children then join hands to make a circle.

Listen to Thierry Maucarré at:

http://www.etab.ac-caen.fr/apiedu/eps/index.php?id=26

Enfilons les aiguilles de bois, Les aiguilles sont enfilées, Mais le fil n’est pas cassé. Thread the needle, it’s made out of wood, See our needle is threaded true, And the thread is strong and good. Scions, scions du bois pour la mère Nicholas. Sawing, sawing, for our mother we’ll saw wood.

Follow instructions above and continue singing the first verse until all arms are crossed and a circle is made. With arms crossed children make a gentle sawing action back and forth together. It would be helpful for the leader to indicate left then right, ‘gauche puis droite’.

Nous n’irons plus au bois O

A children’s dance from the 15^th century. The first few notes in this music were taken from the Kyrie of the Catholic mass.

More charming verses about the birds and other creatures of the woods can be found online; watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67hjF9fd_0Q&feature=related

The child standing in the centre can mime these. The simple game below allows for constant repetition and learning of a more limited vocabulary.

Nous n’irons plus au bois, Les lauriers sont coupes. La belle que voilà, Ira la ramasser. Refrain Entrez dans la danse, Voyez comme on danse, Sautez, danser, Embrassez qui vous voudrez No more we’ll go to the woods, The laurel has been cut. The fair one gathered it, Together here with us. Enter in the circle, Show us all your dancing, Jumping, dancing, Choose the one you like the best.

1. Children skip round in a circle singing. A child on the outside skips round in the opposite direction. All change direction on next two lines 2. The circle stands still holding arms high. The child outside weaves in and out of the circle. 3. As the children clap the child then chooses a partner to dance with in the centre. This new child takes the first child’s place.

La secouette O

This dance from Brittany can be accompanied by the beating of drums or tambours to make a fine sound and lift the dancing to another level.

Listen at: http://www.amazon.com/La-secouette/dp/B002A2PA92

Begin in a circle of pairs, side by side, with hands crossed in front skating style.

}x2 Si j’avais du bois cassé, Je ferais des allumettes. Des allumettes comme ci comme ça, Des allumettes comme ci comme ça, Des allumettes comme ci comme ça. }x2 Oui! Des allumettes comme ça. If I had some good brushwood, Then I would make some matchsticks. Some matchsticks quick I would make like this, Some matchsticks quick I would make like this, Some matchsticks quick I would make like this, Yes! I’d make some matchsticks quick.

Walk clockwise round in a circle to a steady beat. Second time walk in the opposite direction. Stand facing partner holding hands. Hop skip with legs swinging in one direction then the other. Make a two handed swing.

Le furet du bois joli O

In this traditional ‘pass the ring’ game the children stand in a circle holding a long piece of string behind them. A ring is threaded over the string and the ends are tied. One child stands in the centre of the circle and attempts to work out the whereabouts of the ring as it is passed surreptitiously from hand to hand. If correct that child swaps places with the child who has the ring. If incorrect they try twice more before swapping.

A jolly video can be found at:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x279uc_il-court-le-furet_music and music at:

www.auxpetitesmains.free.fr/chansonfuret.htm .

A more lively version is played below. Divide the class into three equal size circles with a child as the ferret in each one.

Il court, il court, le furet, Le furet du bois, mesdam’s. Il court, il court, le furet, Le furet du bois joli. How ferret runs, see him run, There goes ferret of the woodlands. Ferret runs, see him run, Ferret of the lovely woods. Il a passé par ici, Il repassera par là. Qui est-ce qui l’à? Watch him passing by this way, Now he’s coming back again, Where can he be now?

Hold hands high in a circle to make the ‘bois joli’. The ‘ferret’ weaves in and out of the circle. At ‘Qui est-ce qui l’à’ he taps the nearest child on the shoulder, holds their hand and leads them through the woods, weaving in and out as before. This continues with more children joining the ferret which grows in length until one child is left from each circle. A new large circle is made by the ‘ferrets’ line. They skip round the remaining children who sing and clap.

Chevaliers de la table ronde O

‘We’re the knights of the round table.’ The joyful rhythm of this drinking song makes it particularly suitable for dancing.

Watch Dorothée at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munDm1sTSOU&feature=related

Stand side by side in pairs in a circle.

}x2 Chevaliers de la table ronde, Gôutons voir si le vin est bon. }x2 Gôutons voir, oui, oui, oui, Gôutons voir, non, non, non, Gôutons voir si le vin est bon. }x2 All you knights of the great round table, }x2 Taste and see if the wine is good. Taste and see, yes, yes, yes, Taste and see, no, no, no, Taste and see if the wine is good.

1. All join hands and skip in a circle to the left. 2. Second time skip to the right. 3. Walk into the circle stamp and clap three times. 4. Walk back stamp and clap three times. 5. Pairs skip round in situ. The second time finish on the other side of partner ready for a new pairing.

Fanfan la Tulipe O

Fanfan la Tulipe is the archetypal Gallic hero. He plays a role central to the French national identity, as a soldier in Louis XVs regiment of Aquitaine who triumphed against the British in 1745. A character in numerous songs and plays he is the loveable rogue who makes fun of his superiors and gets away with it through wit and guile. Filmed in 1952 and more recently in 2003 the story tells of a prankster who attempts to marry the king’s daughter.

Watch Dorothée at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfwtp5pCTns

Two lines of four children face each other about 1½ metres apart.

En avant, Fanfan la Tulipe, Puis retour, Fanfan puis retour! En avant, Fanfan la Tulipe, Puis retour, Fanfan puis retour! Forward now, Fanfan of the Tulip, Then return, Fanfan, then return! Forward now, Fanfan of the Tulip, Then return, Fanfan, then return! Tariarira, rira, tariarira! Tariarira, rira, tariarira! You will make us laugh and dance! You will make us dance! You will make us laugh and dance! You will make us dance! Repeat above

Lines walk forward, bow or curtsey and then retire. Do this twice. Hold hands with partner opposite and swing round.

Le Chevalier du Guet O

This song is the story of a conversation between the knight of the Guet, a night watch officer who patrolled the streets of Paris on horseback, and the Company of the Marjolaine, a guild of perfumers. The soldier of the watch, whose order dates from the time of Charlemagne, wishes to marry one of their daughters. Gold and silver is spurned by the Compagnon, but he is given leave to choose any of their daughters when he offers his heart.

Below are just a couple of the many verses, providing a showcase for its delightful tune. The rest of the verses and the full story can be found easily online.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng5916Bj3VM

Divide the class into two lines, ‘les chevaliers’ and ‘les compagnons’, who face each other.

Qu’est-c’qui passe ici si tard, Compagnons de la Marjolaine? Qu’est-c’qui passe ici si tard, Gai, gai, dessus le quai? Who comes by this way so late, Companions of the Marjoram-oh? Who comes by this way so late, Hey, hey, over the quay? C’est le Chevalier du Guet, Compagnons de la Marjolaine, C’est le Chevaliersdu Guet, Gai, gai, dessus le quai. It’s the horseman of the watch, Companions of the Marjoram-oh, It’s the horseman of the watch, Hey, hey, over the quay.

‘Les compagnons’ walk in line towards ‘les chevaliers’, they then retreat. Skip round on the spot with the one in the line opposite. Skip in the opposite direction, or as an extra challenge, ‘les compagnons’ hold hands high for ‘les chevaliers’to pass under. Repeat as above but this time ‘les chevaliers’ walk towards ‘les compagnons’. Later they make bridges for ‘les compagnons’ to pass under.

Les fourmis marchent O

Ants know how to eat healthily and bring home more than their five helpings of fruit and vegetables! The translated version has been adapted to rhyme with each number.

This is another familiar tune known in the English language as either ‘The animals went in two by two / Noah’s Ark’ or ‘When Johnny comes marching home’.

Directions:

March around the room with high knees and swinging arms. Older children meet up with others to make the required numbers.

Les fourmis marchent une par une, hourra, hourra, x2 Les fourmis marchent une par une, En transportant des petites prunes, Hourra, hourra, hourra, hourra, hourra! The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah! x2 The ants go marching one by one, They’re carrying some little plums, Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! Les fourmis marchent deux par deux, En transportant des raisin bleus…. The ants go marching two by two, They’re carrying some grapes so blue… Les fourmis marchent trois par trois, En transportant des petit pois…. The ants go marching three by three, They’re carrying some little peas…

quatre par quatre / des gros tomates four by four / tomatoes small cinq par cinq / du beau blé d’Inde five by five / some wheat this time six par six / un pain épices six by six / potato chips sept par sept / des fèves verte seven by seven / green beans, oh what heaven! huit par huit / des patates frites eight by eight / a gingerbread great neuf par neuf / chacune un œuf nine by nine / an egg of mine Les fourmis marchent dix par dix, Et maintenant nous sommes assis The ants go marching ten by ten And now we sit down once again!

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