Je prens en gré

Josquin Baston's chanson Je prens en gré is a secular work from the Renaissance. Set for a six-part choir of solo voices (STTTTB), the piece is written in French. The text expresses the singer's resignation to death, accepted for the sake of love and his lady, despite the pain and injustice he feels. He laments that he must die so soon, describing death as bitter and harsh, and accepting his fate with a sense of inevitable doom. The expressive nature of the text is matched by the intricate polyphony typical of the era, showcasing the composer's skill in weaving together the individual vocal lines.