Je ne faitz rien

Claudin de Sermisy’s chanson Je ne fais rien is a perfect example of secular French part-music from the Renaissance. Sung by a SATB choir, its expressive text speaks of unrequited love and longing. The singer’s futile efforts to gain affection are laid bare, expressing a desire for relief from their suffering. This four-part setting would suit a consort of voices aiming for clarity and balance, bringing the delicate sentiments of the text to life with its elegant melodic lines and contrapuntal interplay. It offers a poignant moment of introspection for an a cappella choir.