C'est grand pitié

Pierre Certon's C'est grand pitié is a secular four-part madrigal for SATB voices. The music opens with a sense of earnest declamation, swiftly moving into a more imitative texture that vividly conveys the text's lament. The composer captures the sorrow of a good companion who finds himself without money, and consequently, without pleasure. The French lyrics describe this pitiable state, where even basic sustenance is lacking, leading to a feeling of profound despair, expressed with a touch of dark humor. Certon's setting skillfully balances the poignant subject matter with the lively, contrapuntal writing characteristic of Renaissance part-music.