Early Music Alte Musik S.S~OM French Chansons Josquin Jannequin .Sermisy .Lassus The Scholars of London French Chansons Faute d'argent Josquin Desprez (c. 1440-1521) Mille regretz Josquin Desprez (c. 1440-1521) Le chant des oiseaux Clement Jannequin (c. 1485-1558) Je ne le croy Pierre Sandrin (fl. 1538-61) Or vien Fa Clement Jannequin (c. 1485-1558) bmAime qui vouldra Nicolas Gombert (c. 1500-56) Quand je suis aupres Nicolas Gombert (c. 1500-56) Tant que vivrai Claudin de Sermisy (c. 1490-1562) Venez, regrets Claudin de Sermisy (c. 1490-1562) La, la, maistre Pierre Claudin de Sermisy (c. 1490-1562) En ce mois delicieux Jacques Arcadelt (c. 1505-68) Margot, labourez les vignes Jacques Arcadelt (c. 1505-68) Du temps que j'estois amoureux Jacques Arcadelt (c. 1505-68) Sa grand beaut6 Jacques Arcadelt (c. 1505-68) Belle qui tiens ma vie Jehan Tabourot (1520-95) Vray Dieu Vassal @/ Prihre devant le repas Jacob Clemens (c. 1515-c. 1556) Action des Graces Jacob Clemens (c. 1515-c. 1556) II est be1 et bon Pierre Passereau (fl. 1509-47) Ce n'est que fie1 Claude Le Jeune (c. 1530-1600) Bonjour mon coeur Orlande de Lassus (1532-94) Si je suis brun Orlande de Lassus (1532-94) Beau le cristal Orlande de Lassus (1532-94) La nuit froide Orlande de Lassus (1532-94) Un jeune moine Orlande de Lassus (1532-94) De nuit, le bien Antoine de Bertrand (fl. 1561-82) Arr6te un peu mon coeur Guillaume Costely (c. 1530-1606) 2 This recording comprises a representative selection from the thousands of French polyphonic songs or Chansons which were composed during the 16th century. This type of music, which had much in common with the Italian Madrigal - its composers included - became popular not just in France but all over Europe. The intention here is to celebrate the sheer variety within the genre, ranging from bawdy to bucolic m, from dance B, to devotion Iifl, ne], and from the philosophical O, FlJ to the pleasure lid, DJ and pain El, of requited or unrequited love. Chansons had already been composed in the 15th century by earlier Franco- Flemish composers such as Machaut, Dufay, Busnois and Ockeghem, to name perhaps the four most famous, but the courtly manner of their music and its verse remained mediaeval in feeling. With the advent of the Age of Humanism however, a musical transformation was brought about through the influence of the leading composer of the time, Josquin Desprez, and his innovative compositional techniques of voice-leading and imitation. His Faute d'argent is a robust canon between alto and baritone, probably based on a scurrilous popular song (see also and 0).Quite different is Mille regretz 0,a tantalizingly short but haunting love song,.later expanded by ~ombeiintoa6-voice version, on which Morales in turn comoosed a Parodv Mass. Such borrowina and reworkina was a common feature of composition at (he time, and many famois Chansons Govided material for masses and dance music. Sermisy, Arcadelt and Lassus were amongst the most frequently honoured in this way. The music of continental Europe continued to be dominated by composers from the region of Flanders (roughly speaking, modern-day Belgium) until well into the second half of the 16th century. These men pursued international careers - Gombert in Madrid, Arcadelt in Rome, and Lassus in Munich (the only notable exception was Clemens) - and whilst it would be true to say that no composer of the time escaped their influence, that is in no way to belittle the achievement or originality of others such as Clement Jannequin, a native of Bordeaux, and composer of probably the most famous Chanson of all, Le Chant des oiseaux: the great Gombert himself made a three voice version of it, perhaps for the enjoyment of his colleagues and fellow-countrymen in the Emperor Charles V's famous Cappilla Flamenca (Flemish Choir). A markedly different approach becomes noticeable in some Chansons by the Parisian court composers Sermisy and Sandrin. There, a new aesthetic agenda, partly set by progressive poets such as Marot EJ and Ronsard O, demanded greater emphasis on the Gallic virtues of charm, simplicity and textual clarity as against the relative obscurity of abstract polyphony. The maturation of this style can be heard in the songs by Le Jeune and Bertrand m, but the Chanson did also continue to develop to a certain extent in a more Madrigalian direction a. The printer Attaignant, followed by Le Roy & Ballard in Paris and Susato in Antwerp, successfully published hundreds of Chansons in the course of the 16th century, causing them to be widely disseminated, and incidentally assuring their preservation down to the present day. (Note and translations by Robin Doveton)

The Scholars of London Since their professional debut 23 years ago The Scholars have given at least 2000 concerts in more than fifty countries, a record which can be rivalled by very few ensembles in the field of chamber music. In that time they have performed in many of the world's most famous concert halls, from the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Lincoln Center in New York and the opera house in Sydney to smaller, more intimate venues such as the Wigmore Hall in London or the Brahmssaal in Vienna. The basis of The Scholars' repertoire has always been music from the golden age of the European renaissance, but they are also actively involved in the commissioning and performing of new music and their concert programmes range from a single period of musical history to one which covers more than five hundred years. The Scholars have made many recordings but this CD collection of French Chansons is their first for Naxos. Faute d'argent, c'est douleur nompareille. Lack of money is unparalleled misery. Si je le dis, las, je sais bien pourquoi: If I say it, I well know why: Sans de quibus il se faut tenir coi; Without the same one has to hold back; Femme qui dort pour argent on I'eveille. Money will awaken a sleeping woman.

Mille regrets de vous abandonner In leaving you with a thousand regrets Et d'6longer votre face amoureuse And departing from your loving look J'ai si grand deuil et peine douloureuse My sorrow and grievous pain are so great Qu'on me verra brief mes jours d6ffiner. That one can see my days will not be long.

R6veillez vous, coeurs endormis, Rouse yourselves, sleeping hearts, Le dieu d'amours vous sonne. The god of love calls you. Vous serez tous en joie mis You should all be joyful Car la saison est bonne. For spring is come. Les oiseaux quand sont ravis The birds, all inspired. En leur chant font merveilles; Do wonders with their song. Ecoutez bien leur devis, Listen well to their ditty; Detoupez vos oreilles. Bend your ears. Et fa ri ro frere li joli Ti ti pi ti, chouti toui. Tu, que dis tu? You, what are you saying? Le petit sansonnet de Paris, The little starling of Paris, Le petit mignon: (q'est la bas? The little thing: (who's there? Passe villain. Sainte t6te Dieu, Pass, knave. By the holy head of God II est temps d'aller boire) It is time to go drinking) Sage, courtois et bien apris. Wise, courteous and well versed. A sermon, ma maitresse. Go to the sermon, my mistress. Sus madame a la messe. Get thee to Mass, Madam. A saint Trotin montrer le tetin, To St. Trotin to show your tits Le doux musequin. And sweet looks. Teo ticun, frian, frian frian, Tutu tu, qui I'ara. Who will have it? Coqui coqui, oi ti oi ti, Huyt huyt, ter ter teo, Queo queo, tar tar, fouquet, quibi, Veleci, huyt huyt, ter turri. Cocu coqui, ou est il, le cocu? Cuckoo, where is the cuckoo? Fuiez, fuiez, maitre cocu, Away, go away, master Cuckoo, Sortez de nos chapitre, Get out of our company. Vous ne serez point retenu You will not be missed Car vous n'etes qu'un traitre. For you are nothing but a traitor. Par trahison en chacun nid, Treacherously, in every nest Pondez sans qu'on vous sonne. You lay without being called. RBveillez vous, etc.. Rouse yourselves, etc..

~e ne le croy et le sais surement, I do not believe it, and I know it for sure; II est certain, et si est lncroyable. It is certain, and so unbelievable. Peut on avoir chose si agreable Can one have something so agreeable Sans le sentir et la voir clairement? Without feeling it or seeing it clearly? Certes neny: mais le contentement Certainly nay: but the contentment therein En est si grand si doux et amiable Is so great, gentle and friendly Que par effet, en songe ou autrement, That in effect, in a dream or otherwise Je n'oserois le penser veritable. I would not dare to think it true.

WOr vien Fa, vien, m'amie Perrette, Come now Perrette, my love Or vien Fa, vien ici jouer! Come here and play. Ton cul servira de trompette Your behind shall serve as a trumpet Et ton devant fera la f6te. And your front shall provide the feast. Si te plait de nous le louer If it pleases you to show off to us De ce je n'en veux mie, I have nothing against it, Et en jour de ma vie Although every day of my life Je n'y voulu penser. I do not wish to think of it. Ta musette godinette nous fera danser Your little bagpipe will make us dance Sur I'herbette, frisque et nette, On the nice, short grass, Puis recommancer. So let us begin. Nous dirons une chansonette We shall sing a little song Et sur la plaisante brunette And, in the pleasant evening, Nos deux corps irons eprouver. Try out our two bodies. J'en ai si grant' envie, My desire is so great Plus ne m'y faut penser. That I cannot think about it. Mignonette joliette, veux tu t'avancer Pretty little girl, would you like to come En chambrette bien secrette Into a very private little room Le jeu commancer. To begin the game?

Aime qui vouldra Who wishes to love Le mieux qui pourra; May make the best of it; Ce n'est que souci, It is nothing but sorrow, Car jarnais sans ci For love will never Amour ne sera. Be without it. Qui plus aimera The greater the love Plus fort se tiendra The more one is Sujet au merci Held to ransom Ou danger fauldra Or danger will Cela ou ceci. Surround one. La chose est ainsi. That is how it is.

Quand je suis aupres de m'amie When I am near my girlfriend Je vis toujours sans souci; I am always carefree. Je lui dis qu'il m'ennuie I tell him that he bores me. Quand j'ai le logis choisi. When I had chosen the room Elle m'a dit un point She made this remark to me: Je ne vous connais point, I don't know you at all; ctes vous b6te, Are you stupid? Le voulez vous etre Do you want to be? En me disant ce propos ci Whilst making me this merry Gay: serchie proye Proposition: pray go and seek Allez votre joie Your pleasure elsewhere; Vous ne m'aurez pas ainsi. You won't possess me like this. mTant que vivrai en age florissant, So long as I am in my prime Je sewiray d'amours le roi puissant I shall serve the great god of love En fais, en dits, en chansons et accords. In deeds and words, song and harmony: Par plusieurs fois m'a tenu languissant, Oft has he left me to languish Mais apres deuil m'a fait rejoissant, But, after sorrow, has brought joy, Car j'ai I'amour de la belle au gent corps. For I have the love of a beautiful woman. Son alliance, C'est ma fiance. Her betrothal Is pledged to me; Son coeur est mien, Le mien est sien. Her heart is mine And mine is hers. Fy de tristesse, Vive liesse, Away with sorrow, Long live joy, Puisque en amour A tant de bien. For in love there is so much pleasure. Quand je la veulx sewir et honorer; When I wish to serve and honour her, Quand par escript veulx son nom decorer; When I wish to write her name's praises, Quand je la veoy et visite souvent; When I see her and visit her often, Ses envieux n'en font que murmurer, The envious only complain; Mais notre amour n'en scauroit moins durer Nevertheless, our love will endure Autant ou plus en emporte le vent. As long as the winds blow. Maulgre envie, Toute ma vie In spite of envy, All my life Je I'aimerai, Et chanterai. Shall I love her; And 1 shall sing; C'est la premiere, C'est la derniere This is the first, This is the last Que j'ai sewie Et sewirai. I have sewed And shall serve. Clement Marot m~enez,regrets, venez tous A mon coeur, Come, all you sorrows, into my heart, Venez y tot, nu1 de vous ne me laisse. Come now, let none of you miss me; Venez, souci, venez larmes et pleurs, Come grief, come cries and tears, Venez y tous qui les amants oppressent. Come, all that lovers must bear. a~ala, maistre Pierre, Ho there, master Peter (=Stone), La la, buvons donc! Ho there, let us drink! En revenent de Nanterre, Returning from Nanterre Je m'assis sur une pierre, I sat down on a stone Aupres de moi le flacon. With the bottle beside me. Pour Bviter le caterre To make the road easier, A ce flacon fait la guerre Attack this bottle En mangant d'un gras jambon. While eating a fat ham! En ce mois delicieux In this delightful month, Qu'amour toute chose incite Stimulated already by love, Un chacun & qui mieux mieux The sweetness of the season La douceur du temps invite; More and more invites everyone. Mais une rigueur despite Yet one harsh thing Me fait pleurer mon malheur: Makes me weep my unhappiness. Belle et franche Marguerite, Beautiful, candid Marguerite, Pour vous j'ay ceste douleur. For you I have this sorrow. Dedans votre oeil gracieux In your gracious eye Toute douceur est escrite, All gentleness is written, Mais la rigueur de vos yeux But the harshness in your looks En amertume est confite. Is confided in bitterness. Souvent la coulhvre habite Often the serpent lives Dessous une belle fleur. Beneath a beautiful flower.

Margot, labourez les vignes, Margot, tend the vines, Vignes, vignes, vignolet! The vines, the vines, the little vines, Margot, labourez les vignes bient6t. Margot, go and tend the vines now. En revenant de Lorraine, Margot, Returning from Lorraine, Margot, Rencontrai trois capitaines; I met three captains; Ils mont saluee vilaine, Margot; They greeted me with disgust, Margot; Je suis leurs fievres quartaines. I am their pox. Margot, labourez etc.. Margot, tend etc..

HDutemps que j'estois amoureux, At the time when I was in love Rlen que les soupirs langoureux Nothing but languishing sighs Ne me plaisoit en rien ma lyre; Could please my lyre at all. Rien que I'amour ne s~avoitdire, My love did not know how to say De me rendre un nouveau tourment. Anything but how to give a new torment: Et ne trouvois roc ny fontaine And I found neither rock nor fountain Qui ne reprbsentast ma peine. That did not depict my suffering. mSagrand beaute a cause le desir Her great beauty has caused the desire Qui fait en moi renaitre le printemps. Which renews Spring within me; Sa loyaute me donne le plaisir Her loyalty gives me the pleasure De seur repos et joyeux passetemps. Of sure repose and joyful pastime: Et s'il advient que par longeur du temps And should it happen that with the passage of time Elle changeast et qu'il me fust notoire, She may change and I should notice it, Asseurez vous que I'amour que je sents Be assured that the love l feel Ne me permettroit que je le sceuse croire. Will not permit me to believe it.

Belle qui tiens ma vie Beautiful one, who holds my life Captive dans tes yeux, Captive in your eyes, Qui m'a I'bme ravie Who has ravished my soul D'un sourir gracieux, With a gracious smile, Viens t6t me secourir Come quickly to help me Ou me faudra mourir. Or I must die. Pourquoi fuis-tu, mignarde, Why do you flee, dainty one, Si je suis pres de toi; When I am close to you? Quand tes yeux je regarde When I regard your eyes Je me Derds dedans moi: I am lost to myself, Cartes perfections For your virtues Changent mes actions. Change my actions. Approche donc, ma belle, Come closer then, my lovely, Approche toy, mon bien: Come closer, my comfort: Ne me sois plus rebelle Be no longer a rebel, Puisque mon coeur est tien: For my heart is yours. Pour mon ma1 appaiser, To ease my pain, Donne moy un baiser. Grant me a kiss. mVrai Dieu, que j'ai le coeur gai! God's truth, I have a merry heart! J'ai men6 ma mye au joli vert gai, I led my lady to the merry green sward, En un lieu fort loin de gent; To a place far from people. Lti j'ai fait danser son corps gent, There I made her lovely body dance La danse du houppe gai. The dance of the happy hop.

Priere devant le reoas Praver before Mea 0 souverain Pasteur et Maistre, 0 Sovereign Shepherd and Master, Regarde se troupeau petit Look upon this little flock Et de tes biens souffre le paistre And of Thy goodness allow it pasture Sans desordonne appetit Without unseemly appetite; Nourrissant petit a petit Nourishing little by little A ce jour d'hui ta creature To this day Thy creature Par celui qui pour nous vestit With that which, for us, clothes Un corps subjet a nourriture. A body subject to nourishment.

Action des Graces Grace after Meat Pere eternelle, qui ordonnez, Eternal Father, who ordains N'avoir souci de lendemain Without caring for the morrow, Des biens que ce jour a donnes For the gifts this day has given, Te mercions de coeur humain We give Thee hearty thanks: Or puis-qu'll ta pleu de ta main And since it has pleased Thee from Thy hand Donner au corps manger et boire To give the body food and drink, Plaise toi du celeste pain May it please Thee with celestial bread Paistre nos ames a ta gloire. To feed our souls to Thy glory. II est be1 et bon, commere, mon mari. He is a good fellow, gossip, my husband. II Btait deux femmes toutes d'un pays, There were two women of the same neighbourhood Disans I'une 2. I'autre: avez bon mari? Saying to one another: have you a kind husband? II ne me courouce, ne me bat aussi; He does not annoy me, neither does he beat me; II fait le menage, il donne aux poulailles He does the housework, he feeds the hens Et je prens mes plaisirs. And I take my pleasures. Commbre, c'est pour rire Gossip, it is funny Quand les poulailles crient: When the hens cluck: Petite coquette, qu'est-ce ci? Little coquette, what is this?

Ce n'est que fiel, ce n'est qu'amer, It is nothing but bitterness, spite and torment ce n'est que tourment All their life for poor, weeping lovers. Toute la vie des pauvres Bplores amants. Ils ne sont jamais assures que de I'ennui; They are only assured of woe: Vivent en pleurs, vivent en deuil, Living in tears sorrow vivent en cris; and groans, Entre des las, entre des dards, Between sighs, darts entre des feux. and flames. De repos avoir ne pourront une They do not have a single hour's rest: seule heure: Ire, martel, rage, rancune, desespoir, Fury, fever, rage, rancour, despair, EnjalousBs, enchev6tres, les abetit. Madden the jealous, unchecked. Se vouant loyaux 51 servir, vielleront nuits, Vowing loyal service, nights grow old, Donneront jours, couleront mois, Days are given, months, years rush by. fileront ans: Pour recompens' un repentir leur demeura. For recompense they are repaid with repentance. Bonjour mon coeur, bonjour ma douce vie, Good day my heart, good day my sweet life, Bonjour mon oeil, bonjour ma chere amie. Good day my eye, good day my dear lady-love, He, bonjour ma toute belle, Ah good day my all-lovely, Ma mignardise, bonjour My pretty one, good day Mes delices, mon amour, My delights, my love, Mon doux printemps, ma douce My sweet spring, my sweet fresh flower, fleur nouvelle, Mon doux plaisir, ma douce colombelle, My sweet pleasure, my sweet dove, Mon passereau, ma gente tourterelle; My sparrow, my gentle turtledove; Bonjour ma douce rebelle. Good day my sweet rebel. Ronsard

Si je suis brun et ma couleur trop noire, If 1 am brown and my colour too dark, Ce n'est pas me~eille,s'on me veut croire; This is no wonder, if you would believe me; Car comme Phebus me hale par dehors, For just as Phoebus burns me from without, Ainsi me brule Cupido dans le corps. Even so does Cupid scorch me within. Ne vous soit Btrange si je suis noir, Do not reject me if I am dark, Car brule je suis de deux feux: assavoir, For I am scorched by two fires: namely, De Phebus qui me hale par dehors, By Phoebus, who burns me from without, Et Cupido me brule dans le corps. And Cupid, who scorches me within.

Beau le cristal, beau I'albastre et I'ivoire, Beauteous are crystal, alabaster and ivory, Beau le porphire et le jaspe luisant, Beauteous are porphyry and shining jasper, Et beau et I'or, des beaux metaux la gloire; And beauteous is gold, the glory of beauteous metals; Beau le rubis aux doigts hautains duisant; Beauteous are rubies glowing on proud fingers; Beau de la terre est le fruit et plaisant; Beauteous and pleasant is the fruit of the earth; Beau est le vaincre OD tant d'honneur Beauteous is victory where much habonde, honour abounds, Mais de vanqueurs les debats appaisant, But of the victors' talks of truce Belle la paix seule embellit le monde. Beauteous peace alone adorns the world. La nuit froide et sombre The night cold and sombre Couvrant d'obscure ombre Covering with dark shade La terre et les cieux The earth and skies Aussi doux que miel Brings sleep, sweet as honey, Fait couler du ciel Flowing from heaven Le sommeil aux yeux. To the eyes. Puis le jour, Then the day, Au labeur duisant, Fitted for labour, Sa lueur expose: Exposes its brightness: Et d'un tien divers And with varied light Ce grand univers Adorns and perfects Tappisse et compose. This great universe. J. du Bellay

Un jeune moine est sorti du convent A young monk was leaving the monastery A rencontre une nonnette au cops gent. To meet a pretty young nun. Se print a lui demander He began to ask her S'elle vouloit brimbaler If she would like to swing Ou dancer le petit pas. Or dance with little steps. Vray Dieu, helas, vous ne brimbalerez pas! God's truth, alas, you won't swing! He moine, moine, qu'apelles brimbaler? Hey, monk, what do you mean, swing? Ma jeune dame, baiser et accoler My young lady, to kiss and hug En nostre religion In our order Brimbaler nous apellons We call swinging, Corps a cops nus en deux draps. Two naked bodies between the sheets. Et moine, moine, que diront voz abez? And, monk, what will your abbots say? Ils sont deceus tous voire tres bien gabez. They are deceived that everything is in order. En lieu de bien entonner Instead of intoning well Vous faites le lit branler, You make the bed shake, La reigle ne I'entend pas. The authorities do not hear. De nuit, le bien que je de jour pourchasse By night, the beloved whom I pursue by day M'advient en songe image du desir, Comes to me in a dream image of desire, Car je sens bien ma maitresse gesir For I sense well my mistress lying Aupres de moi, nu A nu, face face. By me, naked together, face to face. Doux soupirant, coup a coup je me lasse Softly sighing, little by little I grow weary, Sentant mes flancs mignardement saisir, Feeling my flanks daintily held, Et au doux point je fondz tout en plaisir And at that sweet moment I melt with pleasure. Si doucement la folastre m'embrasse. So softly does the wanton embrace me; Par cet ivoire et ces roses mon ime Through that ivory and lhose roses my soul En cent douceurs et se pert et se pasme Is lost in a hundred sweetnesses, swooning Sur son tetin du mien aprivoise. On her bosom crushed by mine. 0 que de bien, de plaisir, de meweille, 0 how much joy, pleasure and wonder Quand la baisant je me sens rebaisse, When, kissing her, I feel myself kissed again, Mourant tout las, sur sa levre vermeille. Dying, exhausted, on her ruby lip. Arrete un peu mon coeur, Stay awhile my heart, where are you oQvas-tu si.courant? running so fast? Je vais trouver les yeux qui I am going to find the eyes which sain me peuvent rendre. can make me sane. Jete prie' attends moi. I pray you wait for me. Je ne te puis attendre: I cannot wait for you: Je suis presse du feu qui me va devorant. I am driven by a fire which will consume me. HBlas mon pauvre coeur, que tu es ignorant:Alas my poor heart, how ignorant you are: Tu ne saurais encot ta misere comprendre: You still cannot understand your misery: Ces yeux, d'un seul regard te Those eyes, which with one look reduiront en cendre, reduce you to cinders, Ce sont tes ennemis, t'iront ils secourant? Those are your enemies, will they help you? Envers ses ennemis si doucement One does not deal so sweetly with on n'use: one's enemies. Ces yeux ne sont point tels. These eyes are not at all like that. Ha! c'est ce qui t'abuse: Ah, there you are mistaken: Le fin Berger surprend I'oiseau par The cunning shepherd surprises the bird des apats. with snares. Tu t'abuse toi meme, You yourself are mistaken, ou tu m'emporte envie: or are envious of me: Car I'oiseau malheureux s'envole For the unhappy bird flies to his death, a son trbpas, But Ifly to the eyes which give me life. Moi, je vole a des yeux qui me donnent la vie. Philippe Desportes 8.550880 9 lEEl French Chansons Time: The Scholars of London

(200) W1 S* mmd krYQi (hdelt) (248) (1:si) @8 tlczr rn dc Crabomt) (1:57) (311) v~m(vd) (057) (1:s~) Pdhkral hv(Clemens) (1:57)' (214) &Sh h (aemens) (2:18) (2m IBI ~1~dh'~pssereau) (0:56) (1:27) &qlQ*wad(LeJeune) (3:39) (214) m (LM~ (124) (2:07) El si#wbUa@=.qd (1:42)

(233) (1:Ol) rn am*&-) (210) De k4#m pertrand) (3:05)

Recorded at St. Silas The Martyr, St. Silas Place, MADE IN GERMANY Kentish Town, London from 15th to 17th May, 1993. 09lse) hducer 1 Engineer: Gary Cole Music Notes: Robin Doveton I Cover from "Tr&sriches heures du duc de Berry" I