Au feu damour

Robert de la Rue was a significant composer of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, renowned for his secular chansons as well as sacred music. This STTB setting of Au feu damour showcases his skill in the French chanson tradition. The text, written in Middle French, speaks of the singer performing penance in the fire of love, for a lady who has wronged him greatly. Despite the suffering, he seeks no vengeance, preferring to endure death for love of her. The intimate four-part texture of the chanson makes it suitable for smaller ensembles, offering a poignant expression of unrequited or difficult love.