En un chateau

In this witty French chanson, Orlando di Lasso paints a scene in a castle where a lady admires a statue of Hercules. She finds it near perfect, save for one anatomical detail she deems too small for such a grand body. A wise old mason overhears her critique and gently explains that her perception of 'small' is skewed by the passage of time; what she sees as small was considered proportionate in antiquity. This four-part, eight-voice (SATB, ATTB) setting is a prime example of secular Renaissance part-music, showcasing Lasso's mastery of word-painting and characterful expression within the chanson genre.