Cueur prisonnier

Cornelius Canis was a composer of chansons in the Franco-Flemish tradition. This four-part setting, Cueur prisonnier, is a secular work in French. The text speaks of a heart taken prisoner by love, a common theme in the chansons of the period. The composer vividly depicts the lover's predicament: he warned himself that seeing his beloved would mean losing himself, but who could have foreseen such suffering arising from such a great joy? The music captures the pathos of the words, with the four voices of STTB weaving a rich and expressive texture. Canis's skill in setting words to music is evident throughout this compelling work.