In illo tempore

This setting by Melchior Franck, for SATB choir, is a secular part-song from the Renaissance. The text begins with the Latin phrase 'In illo tempore', commonly used in the liturgy to introduce Gospel readings, but here it sets a secular scene. The German translation of the text suggests a narrative or descriptive lyrical content. Franck, a prolific composer of his time, wrote extensively in various genres, and this piece offers a glimpse into the secular part-song tradition of the period, combining Latin and German texts within a single composition for mixed voices.