Aus gutem Grund

Orlando di Lasso's setting of Aus gutem Grund opens with a homophonic texture, the voices declaiming the text together in rich, four-part harmony. The German Lieder tradition finds a master craftsman in Lasso, who here sets a secular text praising a lady's virtue and beauty. The music vividly captures the sentiment, with the upper voices in particular celebrating her refinement. It is a fine example of Renaissance part-music, its clear-textured vocal lines and confident harmonic language making it an attractive proposition for choirs seeking a German-language piece from this era. The composer's skill in blending text and music is evident throughout this engaging work.