Adding to Blake Set to Music

Illustrations of the Book of Job, detail of pl. numbered 21. Collection of Robert N. Essick.
Image courtesy of the William Blake Archive.

In 1990, the University of California Press published Blake Set to Music: A Bibliography of Musical Settings of the Poems and Prose of William Blake, compiled by Donald Fitch. This bibliography lists 1412 pieces up to 1988. “Blake Set to Music: Supplement 2001” by Fitch appeared in Blake 35.2 (fall 2001): 40-61. The following list contains pieces of music written after Fitch’s bibliographies were published or, in a few cases, compositions written before their publication that were not mentioned therein.My research for this project was aided by Keri Davies, “Blake Set to Music,” Blake 2.0: William Blake in Twentieth-Century Art, Music and Culture, ed. Steve Clark, Tristanne Connolly, and Jason Whittaker (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) 189-208. The works below are primarily set to or based on Blake’s poems; songs that mention Blake, such as “You Don’t Pull No Punches, but You Don’t Push the River” from Van Morrison’s Veedon Fleece (1974) (see Amazon, Allmusic, and YouTube), are generally not included.

The entries below are organized by the last name of the composer, using Fitch’s work as a model. They list the nationality of the composer, though in a few instances this position has been left blank because the information was not readily available at the time the project was conducted. Each entry provides either the name of a single composition or an album in which compositions have been collectively published. The duration refers to the complete length in minutes and seconds of the individual composition or album. Where possible, entries contain details of instrumentation, copyright dates, composition dates, publisher names, and genres. Finally, entries that begin with an album title end with a list of the works on that album that are based on works by Blake, numbered as they are on the album. The source list contains at least one link to a full score of the piece, or a YouTube video, or a sound recording via Spotify, or another web site.

ASHCROFT, RichardUK
From Forth; performed by rock band the Verve; songs for voice, guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion. Duration: 64:18. MRI Associated, © 2008. Rock.
Contents: 2. Love Is Noise (based on Blake’s “And did those feet in ancient time”).
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube, Spotify.

AYTON, WillUSA
From A Reliquary for William Blake; song cycle for voice and viols. Duration: 73:46. MSR Classics, © 2007. Classical.
Contents: 1. The Tyger. 2. The Principle, Application & Therefore. 3. The Garden of Love. 4. The Remembrance of Sin. 5. Meditation. 6. Come Hither. 7. The Little Vagabond. 8. The Look of Love. 9. The Clod & the Pebble. 10. Grown Old. 11. Why Was Cupid a Boy? 12. Dance—Prayer—Dance. 13. Principle—Argument—Fancy. 14. Piping down the Valleys Wild.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, Spotify.

BEGLARIAN, EveUSA
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell; songs for voice, flute, soprano saxophone, oboe, bassoon, percussion, electric guitar, bass, piano. Duration: 13:24. EVBVD Music, © 1994. Contemporary.
Movements: 1. Opposition Is True Friendship. 2. Energy Is Eternal Delight. 3. Enough.
Sources: EVBVD Music, full score, Spotify.

BERENDS, BillUSA
From Mastermind III: Tragic Symphony; performed by progressive rock band Mastermind; songs for voice, guitar, bass, percussion. Duration: 48:11. ZERO/Toshiba-EMI, © 1994. Progressive rock.
Contents: 1. Tiger! Tiger!
Sources: Allmusic, Mastermind, YouTube.

BOLCOM, WilliamUSA
Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, orchestra, harmonica, fiddle. Duration: 136:47. Naxos, © 2004. Classical.
Contents: (Disc 1, Songs of Innocence) 1. Part 1. Introduction. 2. Part 1. The Ecchoing Green. 3. Part 1. The Lamb. 4. Part 1. The Shepherd. 5. Part 1. Infant Joy. 6. Part 1. The Little Black Boy. 7. Part 2. Laughing Song. 8. Part 2. Spring. 9. Part 2. A Cradle Song. 10. Part 2. Nurse’s Song. 11. Part 2. Holy Thursday. 12. Part 2. The Blossom. 13. Part 2. Interlude. 14. Part 2. The Chimney Sweeper. 15. Part 2. The Divine Image. 16. Part 3. Nocturne. 17. Part 3. Night. 18. Part 3. A Dream. 19. Part 3. On Another’s Sorrow. 20. Part 3. The Little Boy Lost. 21. Part 3. The Little Boy Found. 22. Part 3. Coda.
(Disc 2, Songs of Experience, volume 1) 1. Part 1. Introduction. 2. Part 1. Hear the Voice of the Bard. 3. Part 1. Interlude. 4. Part 1. Earth’s Answer. 5. Part 2. Nurse’s Song. 6. Part 2. The Fly. 7. Part 2. The Tyger. 8. Part 2. The Little Girl Lost. 9. Part 2. In the Southern Clime. 10. Part 2. The Little Girl Found. 11. Part 2. The Clod and the Pebble. 12. Part 3. The Little Vagabond. 13. Part 3. Holy Thursday. 14. Part 3. A Poison Tree. 15. Part 3. The Angel. 16. Part 3. The Sick Rose. 17. Part 3. To Tirzah.
(Disc 3, Songs of Experience, volume 2) 1. Part 4. The Voice of the Ancient Bard. 2. Part 4. My Pretty Rose Tree. 3. Part 4. Ah! Sun-Flower. 4. Part 4. The Lilly. 5. Part 5. Introduction. 6. Part 5. The Garden of Love. 7. Part 5. A Little Boy Lost. 8. Part 5. A Little Girl Lost. 9. Part 5. Infant Sorrow. 10. Part 5. Vocalise. 11. Part 6. London. 12. Part 6. The School-Boy. 13. Part 6. The Chimney Sweeper. 14. Part 6. The Human Abstract. 15. Part 6. Interlude: Voces Clamandae. 16. Part 6. A Divine Image.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, Naxos, YouTube, Spotify.Editors’ note: See also Jackie Di Salvo’s review of the New York premiere of the work in Jan. 1987, Blake 21.4 (spring 1988): 152-57.

CARR, DanielUSA
Three Blake Songs; songs for voice, piano. Duration: 07:00. Composed 2005. Classical.
Movements: 1. Nurse’s Song. 2. A Poison Tree. 3. The Blossom.
Sources: Daniel Carr: Composer, YouScribe, Box.

CLACK, Jo, and Paul HowardUK
Blake Songs; songs for voice, guitar, mandolin, fiddle. Average song duration: 03:00. Christian Fallon, © 2007. Folk.
Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Poison Tree. 3. On Another’s Sorrow. 4. The Echoing Green. 5. A Little Boy Lost, A Little Boy Found. 6. The Fly. 7. The Garden of Love. 8. The Little Vagabond. 9. The Sick Rose. 10. London. 11. The Tyger. 12. Ah, Sunflower.
Sources: Howard and Clack, YouTube, Facebook.

COATES, StephenUK
From The London Book of the Dead; performed by the band the Real Tuesday Weld; songs featuring bass, guitar, voice, clarinet, violin, spoken word, percussion. Duration: 48:49. Six Degrees, © 2007. Indie pop.
Contents: 9. Song for William.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, Pitchfork, Spotify.

COREN, FinnNorway
The Blake Project: The Ecchoing Green; songs composed and performed by Finn Coren. Duration: 07:39. Bard Records, © 1997. Pop.
Contents: 1. The Ecchoing Green. 2. The Wild Flower’s Song. 3. A Poison Tree.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, Spotify.Editors’ note: In his 2001 supplement Fitch lists the Blake Project album and mentions some singles, but not this release. For a review of the album, see Thomas Dillingham, Blake 32.2 (fall 1998): 49-50.

DAVENPORT, BobUK
From The Common Stone; songs for voice, guitar. Duration: 52:43. Topic Records, © 2005. Folk.
Contents: 4. Jerusalem.
Sources: Allmusic, Mainly Norfolk, Spotify.

DYSON, PeterRussia/UK
Infant Joy; song for voice, piano. Duration: 01:22. Peter Dyson, © 1978. Classical.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, Allmusic, full score.

ELLINGSEN, Sivert
The Lamb; song for voice. Sivert Ellingsen, © 2012. Classical.
Source: International Music Score Library Project.

EMMANUEL, MichaelUSA
Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, guitar, violin, viola, cello, flute. Duration: 60:00. Released 2012. Classical.
Contents: 1. Ecchoing Green. 2. The Blossom. 3. The Lamb. 4. The Tyger. 5. The Chimney Sweeper (Innocence). 6. The Divine Image. 7. The Human Abstract. 8. A Dream. 9. Little Boy Lost/Little Boy Found. 10. Spring. 11. A Cradle Song. 12. The Clod & the Pebble. 13. Holy Thursday. 14. The Little Girl Lost. 15. The Little Girl Found. 16. The Little Vagabond. 17. The Chimney Sweeper (Experience). 18. The Sick Rose. 19. The Fly. 20. My Pretty Rose Tree/Ah! Sunflower/The Lily.
Sources: Amazon, Michael Emmanuel, YouTube.

FERRERI, Ernesto
Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, orchestra. Duration: 24:00. Ferreri Publications, Ltd., composed 1995. Modern.
Movements: 1. Laughing Song. 2. The Shepherd. 3. The Ecchoing Green. 4. A Dream. 5. Songs of Experience (The Fly, The School-Boy, The Voice of the Ancient Bard).
Source: International Music Score Library Project.

GILLETT, JeffUK
William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, guitar, concertina, mandolin, dulcimer, whistle. Duration: 100:00. J&E Music, © 2009.
Contents: 1. The Voice of the Ancient Bard. 2. Introduction (Innocence). 3. The Shepherd. 4. Laughing Song. 5. The Little Boy Lost/The Little Boy Found. 6. Spring. 7. The Lamb. 8. The Tyger. 9. The Little Black Boy. 10. Holy Thursday (Innocence and Experience). 11. To Tirzah. 12. Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow. 13. The School Boy. 14. A Little Boy Lost. 15. The Chimney Sweeper (Innocence). 16. On Another’s Sorrow. 17. The Chimney Sweeper (Experience). 18. The Ecchoing Green. 19. A Cradle Song. 20. Introduction (Experience) and Earth’s Answer. 21. The Clod & the Pebble. 22. The Sick Rose. 23. Nurse’s Song (Innocence and Experience). 24. The Blossom. 25. A Little Girl Lost. 26. The Garden of Love. 27. The Angel. 28. My Pretty Rose Tree/Ah! Sunflower/The Lilly. 29. The Little Vagabond. 30. London. 31. The Divine Image. 32. The Human Abstract. 33. A Divine Image. 34. A Poison Tree. 35. A Dream. 36. The Fly. 37. The Little Girl Lost and The Little Girl Found. 38. Night.
Sources: William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Amazon, Wild Goose Studios, So Glos, Zoamorphosis, YouTube.

GILTRAP, GordonUK
From Visionary; songs for voice, guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, percussion. Duration: 52:57. Released 1976. La Cooka Ratcha, © 2000. Folk.
Contents: 6. The Price of Experience. 7. The Dance of Albion. 8. The Tyger. 9. The Ecchoing Green. 10. London. 11. Night. 13. Jerusalem.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube.

GRANT, JamesUK (Scotland)
From I Shot the Albatross; songs for voice, guitar. Duration: 40:36. Vertical, © 2002.
Contents: 2. Long John Brown & Little Mary Bell.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube.

GRIFFIN, MichaelUK
“London”; song for voice, guitar. Duration: 02:45. Standard YouTube license, © 2011.
Source: YouTube.

HAAS, EricUSA
The Lamb; song for voice. Eric Haas, © 1989. Classical.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, CPDL [Choral Public Domain Library].

HILL, Amy
A Divine Image; song for voice. Composed 2005. Classical.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, YouScribe.

HUTCHINGS, KevinCanada
Songs of William Blake; songs for voice, violin, Celtic harp, tin whistle, low whistle, guitar, keyboards, accordion, double bass, percussion. Duration: 44:52. Independent, © 2007. Folk.
Contents: 1. Introduction (Experience). 2. The Ecchoing Green. 3. The Garden of Love. 4. The Sick Rose. 5. The Fly. 6. A Poison Tree. 7. Laughing Song. 8. Introduction (Innocence). 9. The Tyger. 10. The Voice of the Ancient Bard. 11. Spring. 12. Ah! Sun-Flower. 13. The Chimney Sweeper (Experience). 14. Night.
Sources: Amazon, Kevin Hutchings, YouTube, Spotify.Editors’ note: See also the review by Brent E. Kinser, Blake 43.2 (fall 2009): 65-66.

KNOX, DanielUSA
From A Poison Tree; songs for voice, keyboards. Duration: 29:07. H. P. Johnson, © 2006.
Contents: 2. A Poison Tree. 4. Infant Sorrow. 6. A Poison Tree. 9. Infant Sorrow.
Sources: Bandcamp, last.fm, YouTube.

MCCABE, NickUK
From A Northern Soul; performed by rock band the Verve; songs for voice, guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion. Duration: 63:59. Virgin, © 1995. Rock.
Contents: 8. History (based on Blake’s “London”).
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube, Spotify.

MCGARRIGLE, KateCanada
From La vache qui pleure; performed by folk duo Kate and Anna McGarrigle; songs for voice, guitar, percussion, contrabass, accordion, flute, omnichord, synthesizer, tambourine, vibraphone, harmonica, organ, vielle, violone. Duration: 40:31. La Tribu, © 2003. Folk.
Contents: 2. Ah Tournesol. 11. Sunflower (version anglaise de Ah Tournesol).
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic.

MEPHISTO WALZUSA
From Immersion; songs for voice, drums, guitar, synthesizer. Duration: 47:10. Cleopatra, © 1998. Darkwave.
Contents: 5. The Tyger.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube.

PARRY-JONES, JaneNew Zealand
Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, strings, percussion. Duration: 47:43. Jane Parry-Jones, © 2013. Folk, jazz.
Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. The Shepherd. 3. The Echoing Green. 4. The Lamb. 5. The Little Black Boy. 6. The Blossom. 7. The Chimney Sweeper. 8. The Little Boy Lost/The Little Boy Found. 9. Laughing Song. 10. A Cradle Song. 11. The Divine Image. 12. Holy Thursday. 13. Night. 14. Spring. 15. Nurse’s Song. 16. Infant Joy. 17. A Dream. 18. On Another’s Sorrow. 19. Introduction (to Experience). 20. The Clod & Pebble. 21. The Chimney Sweep. 22. Nurse’s Song (Experience). 23. The Sick Rose. 24. The Fly. 25. The Angel. 26. The Tyger. 27. My Pretty Rose Tree. 28. Ah, Sunflower. 29. The Lily. 30. The Garden of Love. 31. The Little Vagabond. 32. Infant Sorrow. 33. A Poison Tree. 34. To Tirzah. 35. The Voice of the Ancient Bard.
Sources: Amazon, CDUniverse, Spotify.

POSMAN, LucienBelgium
The Book of Thel; song for voice, flute, clarinet, cello, piano, percussion, violin, viola. Composed 2001. Classical.
Sources: Living Composers Project, Ann De Renais.

(POSMAN)
Five Songs of Experience; songs for voice, clarinet, piano. Duration: 11:20. Composed 1988. Classical.
Movements: 1. A Little Boy Lost. 2. My Pretty Rose Tree. 3. The Lilly. 4. The Garden of Love. 5. A Little Girl Lost.
Sources: Amazon, Living Composers Project, RussianDVD.

(POSMAN)
The Mental Traveller; song for voice, bass clarinet, marimba, piccolo, violin, cello (or voice and recorders). Composed 2002. Classical.
Sources: Living Composers Project, Ann De Renais.

(POSMAN)
Some Blake Works; songs for voice, flute, piano. Duration: 57:46. Cypres, © 2003. Classical.
Contents: 1. The Book of Los for soprano, flute, piano, and mixed choir: chapter 1. 2. The Book of Los: chapter 2. 3. The Book of Los: chapter 3. 4. The Book of Los: chapter 4. 5. Ten Songs of Experience for mixed choir a cappella: The Clod & the Pebble. 6. Ten Songs of Experience: Holy Thursday. 7. Ten Songs of Experience: The Little Girl Lost. 8. Ten Songs of Experience: The Little Girl Found. 9. Ten Songs of Experience: The Chimney Sweeper. 10. Ten Songs of Experience: The Little Vagabond. 11. Ten Songs of Experience: Infant Sorrow. 12. Ten Songs of Experience: A Poison Tree. 13. Ten Songs of Experience: To Tirzah. 14. Ten Songs of Experience: The School-Boy. 15. To the Evening Star for female choir a cappella. 16. To Morning for mixed choir a cappella.
Sources: Amazon, Living Composers Project, Spotify.

(POSMAN)
Songs of Experience; songs for voice, piano. Duration: 08:15. Composed 1986. Classical.
Movements: 1. Introduction. 2. Earth’s Answer. 3. The Fly. 4. Nurse’s Song. 5. Ah! Sun-Flower.
Sources: Amazon, Living Composers Project, RussianDVD.

(POSMAN)
From Welcome Stranger; songs for voice, violin, piano four hands, cembalo, flute, oboe, bassoon, timpani. Phaedra, © 2012. Classical.
Contents: 1. Welcome Stranger to This Place. 6. To Spring. 7. To Summer. 8. To Autumn. 9. To Winter. 11. The Tyger.
Sources: Amazon, Living Composers Project, MDT, Phaedra.

REDBONE, Martha, John McEuen, and Aaron WhitbyUSA
The Garden of Love—Songs of William Blake; songs for voice, banjo, guitar, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, percussion, upright bass, pump organ, accordion, tack piano, autoharp, lap dulcimer. Duration: 33:01. Blackfeet Productions, © 2012. Folk.
Contents: 1. The Garden of Love. 2. Hear the Voice of the Bard. 3. How Sweet I Roamed. 4. On Anothers Sorrow. 5. A Dream. 6. I Heard an Angel Singing. 7. I Rose Up at the Dawn of Day. 8. A Poison Tree. 9. The Echoing Green. 10. The Fly. 11. Why Should I Care for the Men of Thames. 12. Sleep Sleep Beauty Bright.
Sources: Amazon, Martha Redbone, AllMusic, Martha Redbone Roots Project, NPR, YouTube, Spotify.Editors’ note: See also the review by Steve Newman, Blake 49.1 (summer 2015): 9 pars.

SPALDING, EsperanzaUSA
From Chamber Music Society; songs for voice, percussion, cello, piano, melodica, viola, violin, guitar, bass. Duration: 56:15. Heads Up, © 2010. Orchestral jazz.
Contents: 1. Little Fly.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube.

ST. CLAIR, RichardUSA
Two Songs of Innocence; songs for voice. Duration: 07:30. Richard St. Clair, composed 1997. Classical.
Movements: 1. The Ecchoing Green. 2. Night.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, full score.

ULVER, and Vegard Sverre Tveitan (Ihsahn)Norway
Themes from William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell; songs for spoken word, electronic music. Duration: 101:09. Jester, © 1998. Black metal.
Contents: (Disc 1) 1. The Argument, Plate 2. 2. Plate 3. 3. Plate 3, Following. 4. The Voice of the Devil, Plate 4. 5. Plates 5-6. 6. A Memorable Fancy, Plates 6-7. 7. Proverbs of Hell, Plates 7-10. 8. Plate 11. 9. Intro. 10. A Memorable Fancy, Plates 12-13. 11. Plate 14. 12. A Memorable Fancy, Plate 15. 13. Plates 16-17.
(Disc 2) 1. A Memorable Fancy, Plates 17-20. 2. Intro. 3. Plates 21-22. 4. A Memorable Fancy, Plates 22-24. 5. Intro. 6. A Song of Liberty, Plates 25-27.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube.

UNGER, DavidSweden
Night Songs, Op. 24; songs for voice, piano. David Unger, composed 2012. Classical.
Movements: 1. Night. 2. A Cradle Song. 3. A Dream. 4. The Little Boy Lost. 5. The Little Boy Found.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, full score.

VELDHUIS, Jacob TerNetherlands
The Garden of Love; song for spoken word, soprano saxophone, soundtrack. Duration: 07:17. Boombox, © 2002. Classical.
Sources: Allmusic, Jacobtv, YouTube.

VERTUNNI, VictorItaly/UK
Songs of Innocence and of Experience; songs for voice, strings, guitar, percussion. Duration: 40:58. Victor Vertunni, © 2011. Folk jazz.
Contents: 1. The Lamb. 2. Nurse’s Song (Songs of Innocence). 3. A Little Boy Lost. 4. The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence). 5. Holy Thursday (Songs of Experience). 6. I Prophetic See (from The Little Girl Lost). 7. My Pretty Rose Tree. 8. A Poison Tree. 9. The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Experience). 10. The Fly. 11. The Tyger. 12. Ah! Sun-Flower. 13. The Voice of the Ancient Bard.
Sources: Amazon, Allmusic, YouTube, Spotify.

YOST, Daniel
The Lamb; song for voice. Duration: 03:50. Daniel Yost, composed 2005. Classical.
Sources: International Music Score Library Project, YouTube.