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• Senfl, Ludwig: 4 Tenorlieder

Senfl, Ludwig: 4 Tenorlieder

for 4 voices or instruments.

Ludwig Senfl (ca. 1486-1542), a pupil of the great Heinrich Isaac, was by far the most accomplished German song composer of his time. His real forte, like J. S. Bach two hundred years later, was his exceptional ability at using contrapuntal skill to musical effect; many of his pieces cleverly and effortless combine different melodies, or employ various kinds of canon. Having said this, the present selection includes only conventional Tenorlieder, songs with the main melody in the tenor part; nonetheless, Senfl's gift for melody and elegant counterpoint is still evident.
Mag ich UngIück nit widerstahn is printed after the first of Georg Forster´s song collections, Ein Aussbund schöner Teutscher Liedlein, Nürnberg, 1552; it may have been written in honour of a lady called Maria, as the first two letters of verses 1 and 2 and the first letter of verse 3 make up this name; Senfl, in common with other German composers of his time, was quite fond of such devices. Ich scheid dahin and Dort oben auf dem Berge are taken from Johann Ott´s second volume of songs, Hundert und fünfftzehen guter newer Liedlein, Nürnberg, 1544; So trinken wir alle from Forster´s second book. Editorial accidentals are shown in the usual way, applying to a single note only. The original note values have been halved throughout. I am grateful to Alan Robson and David Thomas for translating the texts of these songs.
These pieces may be performed in various ways, but whatever happens the tenor must be clearly heard; so in a purely instrumental performance this part can be played on an instrument different in character from those used on the remaining parts.