Faulte dargent

Josquin des Prez was a master of the Renaissance chanson, and this work demonstrates his skill. Scored for STTTB voices, Faulte d'argent translates to a unique kind of pain: a lack of money. The text laments this unfortunate state, noting that without funds one must remain quiet, and that even a sleeping woman will awaken for riches. Josquin's setting captures the poignant and perhaps wryly observed sentiment of the lyrics with sensitivity, offering a compelling example of secular part-music from the period.