Ca, ces beaulx yeulx

Ca, ces beaulx yeulx paints a scene of ardent desire, with the singer yearning to kiss beautiful eyes and touch rounded breasts. The text, a French secular chanson from the Renaissance, then shifts to a coy, almost embarrassed tone, as the singer hesitates to speak their desires aloud but resolves to write them down later. Etienne Du Tertre’s setting for four voices (soprano and three altos) captures this blend of bold longing and hesitant intimacy. The chanson form, popular for secular part-music in the 16th century, lends itself well to the direct and sensual expression found in the text, making this a vivid example of the genre.