Janequin, born in the town of Châtellerault to the north of Poitou, excelled in the composition of programmatic chansons, Le chant des oiseaux, Les cris de Paris and La guerre famous among them. The latter vividly recalls Francis I’s victory over the Swiss mercenary forces employed by Duke Ercole Sforza of Milan at the Battle of Marignano in 1515. Published in 1528 and later adapted by the composer for a group of five voice parts, La guerre informed a whole genre of ‘battle pieces’. Janequin sets the scene in simple fashion in the chanson’s first part, before letting rip with a thrilling depiction of the battle itself in its longer second part.

from notes by Andrew Stewart © 2008