Ick ghinck gister avent

Carolus Souliaert’s chanson paints a vivid scene of a lover’s nocturnal visit. The text describes the singer’s clandestine walk last evening, only to find his beloved’s door barred. He knocks gently, calling out for his dearest to wake and let him in. This four-part setting for SATB voices captures the intimate and slightly melancholic mood of the Dutch lyrics. Souliaert was active in the Low Countries in the 16th century, and this work exemplifies the secular chanson tradition of the period, with its focus on poetic expression and intricate polyphony.