Fors seulement is a French chanson

Chanson

A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...

, popular as a basis for variations and as a cantus firmus

Cantus firmus

In music, a cantus firmus is a pre-existing melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition.The plural of this Latin term is , though the corrupt form canti firmi is also attested...

. An early version is attributed to Ockeghem

Johannes Ockeghem

Johannes Ockeghem was the most famous composer of the Franco-Flemish School in the last half of the 15th century, and is often considered the most...

 - this is sometimes called Fors seulement l'attente to distinguish it from his similarly titled Fors seulement contre.

Brumel

Antoine Brumel

Antoine Brumel was a French composer. He was one of the first renowned French members of the Franco-Flemish school of the Renaissance, and, after Josquin des Prez, was one of the most influential composers of his generation....

 wrote a polytextual version, combining a tenor setting of Du tout plongiet

Du tout plongiet

Du tout plongiet is a French chanson.Antoine Brumel wrote a polytextual version, combining a tenor setting of Du tout plongiet with the words and superius from Ockeghem's 'Fors seulement l'attente' for the baritone....

with the words and superius

Superius

For medical uses of the term see Superius In early vocal music, Superius is the Latin-derived name given to the highest voice-part - see Arnold, ref 1.-References:Arnold D. New Oxford Companion to Music, Oxford,...

from Ockeghem's Fors seulement l'attente for the baritone.

Lyrics

Fors seulement latente que je meure, En mon las cueur, nul espoir ne demeure, Car mon las cueur si fort me tourmente Qui n'est douleur que par vous je ne sente, Pourceque suis de vous perdre bien seure.

Except in waiting for death There dwells in my faint heart no hope...

Versions and settings

Many versions of the chanson were produced including those by Ockeghem

Johannes Ockeghem

Johannes Ockeghem was the most famous composer of the Franco-Flemish School in the last half of the 15th century, and is often considered the most...

, Josquin

Josquin Des Prez

Josquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...

, Pipelare

Matthaeus Pipelare

Matthaeus Pipelare was a Flemish composer, choir director, and possibly wind instrument player of the Renaissance.He was from Louvain, and spent part of his early life in Antwerp. Unlike many of his contemporaries, many of whom traveled to Italy, Spain or elsewhere, he seems never to have left...

, Verbonnet

Johannes Ghiselin

Johannes Ghiselin was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance, active in France, Italy and in the Low Countries. He was a contemporary of Josquin des Prez, and a significant composer of masses, motets, and secular music...

, Obrecht

Jacob Obrecht

Jacob Obrecht was a Flemish composer of the Renaissance. He was the most famous composer of masses in Europe in the late 15th century, being eclipsed by only Josquin des Prez after his death.-Life:...

, Pirson, Brumel

Antoine Brumel

Antoine Brumel was a French composer. He was one of the first renowned French members of the Franco-Flemish school of the Renaissance, and, after Josquin des Prez, was one of the most influential composers of his generation....

 and Agricola

Alexander Agricola

Alexander Agricola was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance. A prominent member of the Grande chapelle, the Habsburg musical establishment, he was a renowned composer in the years around 1500, and his music was widely distributed throughout Europe...

.

Mass

Mass (music)

The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...

 settings include those by Ockeghem, Obrecht, Pipelare, and Carpentras

Carpentras (composer)

Carpentras was a French composer of the Renaissance. He was famous during his lifetime, and was especially notable for his settings of the Lamentations which remained in the repertory of the Papal Choir throughout the 16th century...

.