Ein Lieb nit mehr

This German secular madrigal for two sopranos and tenor, by Jacob Regnart, explores the intense devotion of a lover to a single, all-consuming passion. The text opens with the assertion that only this one love holds a strong place in the singer's heart, providing their sole counsel and hope. The music would suit a concert programme of Renaissance part-music, or perhaps a more intimate gathering. The three voices are treated with equal importance, with the composer skilfully weaving imitative passages and homophonic textures to reflect the text's increasingly urgent plea for reciprocation. The final stanza expresses the lover's suffering and absolute reliance on this affection, praying for its fulfilment.