Composer

:

Adrian Willaert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

March

Compose Date

:

ca. 1528

Publication Date

:

1961

Average_duration

:

1:33

"Dessus le marché d'Arras" is a chanson composed by Adrian Willaert, a Flemish composer of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the early 16th century and premiered in Venice, Italy, where Willaert was the maestro di cappella at the Basilica di San Marco. The chanson is written for four voices, with the melody carried by the highest voice, or dessus. The text is in French and tells the story of a young woman who goes to the market in Arras to buy a pair of shoes. Along the way, she meets a young man who tries to woo her with his charm and good looks. The woman is initially hesitant, but eventually gives in to the man's advances and agrees to meet him later that night. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is slow and contemplative, with the voices weaving in and out of each other in a complex polyphonic texture. The second movement is faster and more lively, with the voices imitating each other in a playful and flirtatious manner. The third movement is slower and more introspective, with the voices coming together in a final statement of the melody. One of the most notable characteristics of "Dessus le marché d'Arras" is its use of word painting, a technique in which the music reflects the meaning of the text. For example, in the second movement, the voices imitate the sound of a bird chirping as the text describes the young man's attempts to win over the woman. Overall, "Dessus le marché d'Arras" is a charming and sophisticated piece of music that showcases Willaert's skill as a composer and his mastery of the polyphonic style that was popular during the Renaissance era.

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