Au temps jadis

This French chanson from the Renaissance paints a nostalgic picture of a past golden age when love, loyalty and friendship flourished, and peace prevailed. The composer Orlando di Lasso laments that this harmony has now been lost. Charity has vanished, truth is hidden, and people no longer dare to speak openly, fearing they must flatter to be heard. The text yearns for a return to these lost virtues, for a time when freedom of speech could be restored without fear. This setting for five voices (SATTB) captures the spirit of the chansons, the secular part-music of its era, with intricate vocal lines and rich harmonies.