Au joly bois by Claudin de Sermisy - The Stairwell Carollers, Ottawa

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform the madrigal, "Au joly bois"  by Claudin de Sermisy (1490 -- 1562) a French composer of the Renaissance.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 18th, 2011.
Stills: Holly Massie
Videographer: Zoe Hart.
Editing: Pierre Massie

* French text

Au joly boys, en l`ombre d`ung soucy,

M`y fault aller pour passer ma tristesse,

Remply de dueil d`ung souvenir transy,

Menger m`y fault maintes poires d`angoisse,

En ung jardin remply de noires flours

De mes deux yeulx feray larmes et plours.

Fy de lyesse et hardiesse! Regret m`oppresse,

Puis que j`ay perdu mes amours.

Las! trop j`endure, Le temps m`y dure, Je vous asseure:

Soulas, vous n`avez plus de cours!

* English translation

I have to go to the pretty wood

and spend my grief in the shadow of worry

Filled with mourning for a penetrating memory

I must eat such bitter fruit

In a garden filled with black flowers

I shall weep and sob from my two eyes

So much for jollity and bold adventures, I am oppressed with regret

Because I have lost my love

Alas I endure too much, time hangs heavy on me, I tell you for sure:

Joy and solace are no more.

*FRENCH TEXT AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION  FROM CPL.ORG WITH THANKS