This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Doulce mémoire
Staff Notation • Secular, Chansons
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Doulce mémoire by Pierre de Manchicourt — Lyrics
(Epigram)
Douce mémoire, en plaisir consommée;
O siècle heureux que cause tel savoir:
La fermetée de nous deux tant aimée,
Qui à nos maux a su si bien pourvoir,
Or maintenant a perdu son pouvoir,
Rompant le but de ma seule espérance,
Servant d’exemple à tous piteux à voir.
Fini le bien, le mal soudain commence.
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About Doulce mémoire
A secular French chanson from the Renaissance, Doulce mémoire is a two-part piece for treble voices. The text expresses the bittersweet nature of memory, particularly the pain of lost love. It contrasts past happiness with present sorrow, lamenting the end of pleasure and the onset of misfortune. The lyrics speak of a cherished steadfastness that has now lost its power, breaking the singer's hope and serving as a piteous example. This work offers a moment of reflection on transient joys and the enduring sting of loss, suitable for a reflective program.
