Work
Songs of Innocence
three songs for SSA choir and piano
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This work also appears in a version for solo soprano and piano.
Blake published his Songs of Innocence in 1789. The Songs are now often studied for their literary merit alone, but they were originally produced as illuminated books, engraved, hand-printed, and coloured by Blake himself. Although this cycle of songs is titled 'Songs of Innocence', only one of the three songs, 'Nurse's Song', is actually featured in Blake's compilation.
The first song, 'To Morning', has been set to music frequently, often under the title 'Songs of Innocence', because the tone and subject matter of the poem are compatible with the title. The third song in this cycle is darker in its subject matter - the innocence of the singer gives way to experience as she is captured by the "Prince of Love".
Difficulty note
SSA choirs adult and young people. The songs are suitable for good secondary school choirs.
Contents note
Three songs:
I. To Morning
II. Nurse's Song
III. How Sweet I Roam'd
Text note
Willaim Blake (1757–1827)