A chansonnier is a manuscript or songbook that collects lyric poems, especially the songs of medieval troubadours or trouvères. These books often preserve poems meant to be sung, along with their order, authorship, or musical settings when those survive.
In literary study, the term can also refer to the tradition of such collections, not just to one particular volume.
Example
Inside the faded chansonnier, a courtly song appeared beside its melody, preserving the poet's words for later singers.