L'amour est bien de perverse nature

Pierre Certon's chanson L'amour est bien de perverse nature captures the frustrating contradictions of love, a theme common in secular Renaissance part-music. The text laments how love, after initially offering pleasure, has placed the singer's beloved in a difficult position, making her indifferent to his affections. This setting for STTB voices beautifully reflects the text's emotional arc, moving between moments of potential joy and deep despair. The four-part texture allows for rich harmonic interplay, enhancing the poignancy of the French words and the singer's plight. It is a poignant example of the chanson tradition.