Als ick u vinde

Hubert Waelrant was a composer of the late Renaissance, known for his secular part-music. This four-part madrigal, Als ick u vinde, is written in Dutch. The text expresses the singer's enchantment and longing, comparing the beloved's beauty to the stars, moon, and sun. He pleads for mercy and a love that overcomes all obstacles, desiring to be held close and fearing to be parted from the beloved's embrace. Waelrant sets this passionate text with rich SATB harmonies, typical of the madrigal tradition, creating a compelling musical setting of devotion and desire.