Mille Regretz

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Mille Regretz is a French chanson which in its 4 part setting is usually credited to Josquin. Its plangent simplicity made it a popular basis for reworkings (such as the mass setting by Cristobal Morales, and the 6vv (SATTBB) setting by Nicolas Gombert), as well as more recent sets of variations and threnody. Translations of the song differ in their interpretation of the words 'fache/face amoureuse' in line 2. (variously 'amorous anger' or 'loving face'.)

'Mille regretz de vous abandonner

Et d'eslonger vostre fache amoureuse,

Jay si grand dueil et paine douloureuse,

Quon me verra brief mes jours definer.'

'A thousand regrets at deserting you

and leaving behind your loving face,

I feel so much sadness and such painful distress,

that it seems to me my days will soon dwindle away.'

(Translation from David Dzubay's Threnody on the theme)