Au departir ie vous laisse

This chanson by Jean Le Gendre for ATTB voices opens with a contrapuntal texture where the voices engage in imitative dialogue. The composer captures the tender sentiment of the French text, which speaks of leaving one's heart as a pledge to a loved one who is taking their own heart away. The lyrics convey a gentle warning: treat my heart well, for I will treat yours the same way. The music reflects this delicate exchange, with interwoven lines and a clear harmonic language typical of the secular chansons of its time.