"Ce fut en mai" has recently been recorded by early music performers such as Paul Hillier and the New Orleans Musica da Camera.

1213–1239), a monk at the Abbey of St. Vaast and one of the last trouvère musicians[5]—these were poets from northern and central France who wrote in the langue d'oïl and worked in royal courts.

He also wrote religious poems honouring the Virgin Mary,[8] but "Ce fut en mai" is his most famous work.

[9] A love song, "Ce fut en mai" describes an unhappy lover who is comforted by religious feeling.

Ce fut en mai Au douz tens gai Que la saisons est bele, Main me levai, Joer m'alai Lez une fontenele.

J’alai avant Molt redoutant Que mus d’aus ne me voie, Maz et pensant Et desirrant D’avoir ausi grant joie.

J’alai vers aus, Dis lor mes maus, Que une dame amoie, A cui loiaus Sanz estre faus Tot mon vivant seroie,

In the garden close where shone the rose I heard a fiddle played; then A handsome knight that charmed my sight, Was dancing with a maiden.

Both fair of face, They turned with grace, To tread their May-time measure; The flowering place, Their close embrace, Their kisses brought them pleasure.

"[3] As a pastorelle, "Ce fut en mai" was originally accompanied by dancing and the music of a fiddle (vielle), as described in its lyrics.

[16] The tune serves as the leitmotif of Saint Francis of Assisi in the ballet music Nobilissima Visione, written in 1937 by the German composer Paul Hindemith in collaboration with the Russian dancer and choreographer Léonide Massine.