Damours me plains

This French chanson opens with a clear, bright texture, the three voices of the STB ensemble weaving around each other in imitation. Tielman Susato, a prolific composer and music publisher of the Renaissance, offers a piece that is both engaging and delightful. The text expresses a lover’s complaint, not against his beloved, but against an obstacle or rival preventing him from attaining his desire. He implores his lady to overcome this opposition and grant him the happiness he seeks, a plea beautifully underscored by the chanson's lively and persuasive musical setting. It is a prime example of secular part-music from the era.