Using the poetry of medieval poet Charles, Duke of Orléans, the first and third songs were revised from an earlier version composed in 1898 for a choir belonging to his friend Lucien Fontaine.

[1] All songs are scored for a four-part unaccompanied mixed chorus, except for "Quand j'ai ouy le tambourin sonner", which is set for alto soloist and alto-tenor-bass.

[4] The mistress is revealed to be France itself, as Charles d'Orléans was imprisoned for 25 years in England and created this poem as an ode to his native country.

[5] The alto soloist is singing about how they would "rather stay warm in bed while everyone else is out enjoying May-time celebrations" while the other three voices mimic the percussion sound of a tambourin.

[7] The speaker in the poem is presumably male, so there is a mystery in the differences of the published edition assigning the solo to a contralto, whereas the manuscript designates it for tenor.

There follows a pastoral interlude in the parallel major about the warmth and gentleness of Summer (featuring a solo SATB quartet interspersed with the full-choir texture).