From Chanson to Credo: A Journey Without Barlines This barless transcription of Pierre de Manchicourt’s Doulce Memoire for S/A(T) recorders is part of a broader exploration of Pierre Sandrin’s iconic chanson and its expressive legacy. Presented at the Carolina Mountain Recorder Society, the project traced the emotional and structural transformation of Doulce Memoire across five distinct settings: Sandrin’s original chanson; this reflective duet by Manchicourt; a graceful trio by Josquin Baston; the philosophical reply Fini le Bien by an anonymous composer; and Orlando di Lasso’s sacred reimagining in mass form.

Manchicourt’s duet, posted here, distills the chanson’s emotional core into an intimate dialogue between two voices. His setting preserves the lyrical sorrow of Sandrin’s original while introducing gentle contrapuntal interplay, inviting performers to explore expressive nuance and ensemble empathy.

The four related transcriptions mentioned above—Sandrin’s chanson, Baston’s trio, the anonymous reply, and Lasso’s mass—can be found on the ARS website by entering “barless” in the Keyword box. This collection invites modern ensembles to engage not only with historical repertoire, but with the emotional testimony embedded in its evolving musical language. For those new to playing barless music, you may wish to consult my article, “How to Play Barless Renaissance Music,” in the July 2025 issue of ARS NOVA.