Je prends en gré

The words of this song express a lover's acceptance of death for the sake of his beloved. The lover laments that he has been wounded unfairly, leading him to believe his days will soon end. He finds it unbearable to suffer such a bitter death so quickly, questioning why death must be so harsh. The text clearly states that death is inevitable. This secular French chanson for three voices (SAT) by Jacobus Clemens non Papa captures the poignant and dramatic emotions of unrequited or ill-fated love, typical of Renaissance secular part-music. The composer masterfully sets the text, allowing the musical lines to convey the depth of the lover's despair and resignation.