Auprès de vous

Claudin de Sermisy was one of the most celebrated composers of French chansons in the first half of the sixteenth century. This four-part setting, for ATTB voices, is typical of the genre, with its clear melody and imitative texture. The text speaks of a heart that secretly dwells near its beloved, suffering in silence and longing for the beloved's desire to be its undoing. The gentle melancholy of the words is perfectly captured by the flowing lines and intimate sound of the four-part writing. This is a fine example of Renaissance secular part-music, ideal for a sensitive ensemble.