Fuyons tous d'amour le jeu

Let us all flee the game of love, Orlando di Lasso urges in this secular French chanson. The composer advises the listener to abandon love and women, for no one ever gains anything from it. This setting for SATB voices captures the text's spirited rejection of romantic entanglements. Lasso's mastery of word painting is evident as he musically depicts the urgent need to 'flee' from love, likening it to fire. This chanson offers a delightful opportunity for choirs to explore Renaissance vocal music with a clear, engaging text and vibrant polyphony. It stands as a fine example of the secular part-music so popular in the 16th century.