This edition was prepared by Frank de Ruyter — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ell' est à vous
Staff Notation • Secular, Chansons
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Ell' est à vous by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck — Lyrics
Ell' est à vous, douce maistresse,
ceste belle et dorée tresse,
qui feroit honte mesme à l'or,
et ce front qui d'ivoire me semble,
et ces yeux, deux astres ensemble,
maistresse, sont à vous encor.
Et ces deux belles lèvres closes,
qui semblent deux broings de corail,
et ces dents par où se repousse
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About Ell' est à vous
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck's chanson Ell' est à vous is a fine example of secular part-music from the late Renaissance. Set in French, the text expresses the singer's adoration for his beloved mistress. He praises her golden hair, her ivory brow, her eyes like stars, her lips like coral, and her teeth like pearls. He declares that all these perfections, along with her good spirit and grace, belong to her. Only the pain and hardship of his love remain his own. This SSATB setting would have been performed in intimate settings, showcasing the composer's skill in imitative counterpoint and harmonic richness.
