Dieu des amantz

This setting by Jacques Arcadelt of Dieu des amantz offers a beautiful example of secular French chanson from the Renaissance. The music is written for SATB choir, and the composer carefully crafts the interplay of the voices to express the emotional turmoil of the text. The lyrics speak of a lover appealing to the God of Love, asking that his burning heart be consumed entirely or given to his lady. He describes her coldness, which threatens to kill him, and pleads to be allowed to die if she does not accept his love. The four-part writing allows for rich harmonies and poignant moments as the vocal lines weave together in this exploration of unrequited love.