This edition was prepared by André Vierendeels — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Celle qui est
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Celle qui est by Jacquet de Berchem — Lyrics
Middle French
Celle qui est dedans mon cueur empraincte,
nourrit lesprit dung pensement muable
Pour ce qu'ainsi nature la contraincte
de desirer par force son semblable,
O faulx desir au jeux trop agreable
que les piedz fait si promptement courir,
pour contenter ceste face'honorable
là où le corps est jugé pour mourir.
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About Celle qui est
This striking French madrigal from the Renaissance is set for SATB voices. The text explores a powerful inner conflict: the speaker's heart is imprinted with an image of a beloved, yet this leads to a mutable spirit, compelled by nature to seek a like entity. The poet questions these 'false desires' that make the feet run so quickly, all in service of satisfying an 'honourable face' that ultimately leads to a mortal end. Jacquet de Berchem captures the intellectual and emotional complexity of the poem with expressive vocal writing characteristic of the period.
