Amour et moy

Pierre Cadéac was a French composer of the Renaissance. This four-part chanson, for STTB voices, is secular part-music typical of the period. The text expresses a declaration of love where the speaker and Cupid conspire to win over a lady. The composer recounts how the speaker conquered her body while Cupid captured her soul, transforming her sternness into pity. The direct, often witty, expression of amorous sentiments and clever wordplay are hallmarks of the French chanson tradition. Cadéac's setting captures the lively and engaging spirit of such secular vocal music from the sixteenth century.