Jan petit Jan (Jehan L'Heritier)
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- CPDL #15770: Allegro 2007
- Editor: Joachim Kelecom (submitted 2008-01-11). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 74 kbytes Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Transposed one step down. Source file may be accessed with Allegro 2007, Finale 2007 or higher, or Notepad.
General Information
Title: Jan petit Jan
Composer: Jehan L'Heritier
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Chanson
Language: French
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1528
Description: First appeared in Pierre Attaignant's Six Gaillardes et Six Pavanes in 1528.
External websites:
Original text and translations
French text
Jan, petit Jan,
quant tu as belle femme
garde la bien
mais ne sois point jaleux
car ton bon bruyt tourneroyt en diffame.
Jan, petit Jan,
quant tu as belle femme
sy tu ne l'es
tu seras trop heureux.
Laisse passer le tems aux amoureux
Jan, petit Jan,
quant tu as belle femme,
sans parler d'eulx,
ne leur donner nul blasme.
Lors ils diront:
'Fi pour ces envieux,
car petit Jan montre bien
qu'il nous ayme.'
English translation
by Mick Swithinbank
Jan, little Jan,
when you have a beautiful wife
guard her well
but don't be jealous
because that would spoil your reputation.
Jan, little Jan,
when you have a beautiful wife
if you are not [jealous]
you will be too happy.
Let men who love [her]
pass the time,
Jan, little Jan,
when you have a beautiful wife,
without saying anything about them
or criticising them in any way.
Then they will say:
'Fie on envious husbands,
for little Jan makes it clear
that he is our friend.'