I loved thee

Jonathan Battishill was a distinguished organist and composer of the late eighteenth century, and I loved thee is a fine example of his secular vocal music. Set for three voices, this canon is a witty and concise setting of a text on the fickleness of love. The composer perfectly captures the ironic shift in sentiment as the lover, once devoted, now finds the object of affection so changed that to continue to love them would be a betrayal of their original vow. Battishill’s skill in contrapuntal writing is evident throughout, creating a tight and engaging musical texture from simple, elegant lines.