I shot an Arrow into the air

I shot an Arrow into the air
It fell to earth I know not where,
For so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breath'd a Song into the air
It fell to earth, I know not where.
For who has sight so keen and strong
That it can follow the flight of a song?

Long, long afterward in an oak
I found the Arrow still unbroke;
And the Song from begining to end
I found again in the heart of a friend.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) , from The Belfry of Bruges and Other Poems, published 1846

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Jan van Amerongen (1938-) , "The arrow and the song", from Thompson-liederen, no. 4.
by Michael William Balfe (1808-1870) , "The Arrow and the Song"
by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867-1944) , "The Arrow and the Song", 1922. [treble voice and piano]
by George Andus Beaumont Beecroft (1845-1873) , "The Arrow & the Song" [voice, piano]
by William Blair (1793?-1884) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1915. [voice, piano]
by John Blockley (1800-1882) , "The Arrow and the Song" [voice, piano]
by Ludwig Bonvin (1850-1939) , "The Arrow and the Song", op. 40 no. 1, published 1898 [mezzo-soprano or baritone, piano], from Zwei Lieder, no. 1, note: also set in German
by Wilbur Chenoweth (1899-) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1936. [voice, piano]
by Louis Adolphe Coerne (1870-1922) , "The Arrow and the Song", op. 28 (Ten Songs) no. 3, published 1894 [voice, piano], from Ten Songs, no. 3
by Samuel C. Colburn , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1910. [high or medium voice, piano]
by Miss Davis , "The Arrow and the Song", published 188-? [voice, piano]
by Charles Samuel Elliot (1846-1910) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1880. [voice, piano]
by Baron Frédéric d'Erlanger (1868-1943) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1934. [chorus: SSAATTBB, a cappella]
by L. Falk , "The Arrow and the Song", op. 22, published 1869. [voice, piano]
by Arthur Foote (1853-1937) , "The Arrow and the Song" [voice, piano]
by Charles Gounod (1818-1893) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1884. [voice, piano]
by Charles Beach Hawley (1858-1915) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1883. [voice, piano]
by Walter Cecil Hay (1828-1905) , "The Arrow and the Song" [partsong: SATB]
by (Isador) George Henschel (1850-1934) , "I shot an Arrow into the air", published 1880. [voice, piano]
by Edward Laurence Hime (1823-) , "The Arrow and the Song" [voice, piano]
by William Edward Mulligan , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1887. [voice, piano]
by Joseph Edward Newell , "The Arrow and the Song" [partsong: 2 voices, piano], from Twelve Two Part Songs for the Use of Schools and Classes
by George Ord , "The Arrow and the Song" [voice, piano]
by Ciro Pinsuti (1829-1888) , "The Arrow and the Song", published >>1870. [voice, piano]
by Ciro Pinsuti (1829-1888) , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1916 [chrous: SATB, piano], note: arranged by George L. Tracy
by Francois Thomas , "The Arrow and the Song" [voice, piano]
by W. E. Van Curt , "The Arrow and the Song", published 1887. [voice, piano]
by William Michael Watson (1840-1889) , "The Arrow and the Song" [partsong: 2 treble voices]

by Ludwig Bonvin (1850-1939) , "Pfeil und Lied", op. 40 no. 1, published 1898 [mezzo-soprano or baritone, piano], from Zwei Lieder, no. 1, note: also set in English

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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