The Willow Song
page 2 of the score
The green willow mentioned in the refrain of this tune represents grief due to lost or unrequited love. Shakespeare's audience would have understood the symbolism of the green willow, and they would have been familiar with the text and melody of "The Willow Song" which was sung by the character Desdemona in his tragedy "Othello".
Date of my arrangement: 2019
Duration: 3:18 minutes
Instrumentation: S.A.A.T.B.GB.Cb.
Measures 6-30 and 74-105 of my arrangement of "The Willow Song" are based on musical material from British Museum Add. MS 15117, composed before 1600, and thought to be the earliest copy of the tune, lyrics, and lute accompaniment. Measures 1-5 and 31-73 of my arrangement are based on a song composed around 1660 by Pelham Humfrey who set each of verses 1, 2, and 4 of the Willow Song lyrics to a different melody.
Published by: Peacock Press (Recorder Music Mail) www.recordermail.co.uk
id code: P 794