Chambrière, chambrière

Music Jehan Planson (1559-1615), for SATB Choir, 4 mixed voices a cappella, restitution Jacques Barbier

This piece by Jehan Planson is in an ancient vein, that of the narrative song, in which the characters speak, inveighing against each other and thus enlivening the rhythm of the text and no doubt also that of the song. 

Clément Janequin's La plus belle de la ville (ref. A110906029), published half a century earlier than our Chambrière, chambrière, was already a dialogue song with a simple narrative and an easily memorable melodic structure. Jehan Planson uses the same ingredients here, adding the descriptive element of "Hola, hola", allowing the singers to interfere with the naughty, surprised or reproving tone they choose throughout the verses. 

The subtlety and light-hearted humour of this ever-successful song will be appreciated. The composer varies the texture from three to four voices.