The donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

by Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) , "The donkey", from The Wild Knight and Other Poems, published 1900

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

by Alexius Baas , "The donkey", published <<1940. [voice and piano]
by (Edward) Maurice Besly (1888-1945) , "The donkey", published <<1940. [voice and piano]
by Rutland Boughton (1878-1960) , "The donkey", published 1929 [chorus a cappella], from Three Partsongs, no. ?
by Dora Estella Bright (1863-1951) , "The donkey", published 1936. [medium voice and piano]
by Vera Buck , "The donkey", published 1935. [voice and piano]
by Walter Joseph Buczynski (1933-) , "The donkey", published 1954 [high voice and piano], from Cycle of Three Songs, no. ?
by Henry Dixon Cowell (1897-1965) , "The donkey", L. 695 (1946), published 1947, first performed 1946. [high voice and piano]
by Richard Hageman (1882-1966) , "The donkey", published c1934. [high voice and piano]
by Mervyn, Lord Horder, the Second Baron of Ashford (1910-1998) , "The donkey" [voice and piano]
by Hunter Purdie , "The donkey", published 1962. [SATB chorus a cappella]
by Sir Hugh Stevenson Roberton (1874-1952) , "The donkey", published 1936. [TTBB chorus a cappella]
by Joseph Roff (1910-1993) , "The donkey", 1948. [voice and chorus a cappella]
by Humphrey Searle (1915-1982) , "The donkey", published 1974. [medium male voice and piano]
by Leo Smit (1921-1999) , "The donkey" [medium voice and piano]
by Greta Tomlins (1912-1972) , "The donkey", published 1968. [chorus and piano]
by Bryceson Treharne (1879-1948) , "The donkey", published <<1940. [voice and piano]

GER German (Walter A. Aue)

Date added to the website: 2004-02-10.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

  Search sheetmusicplus.com for The donkey, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for The donkey, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for The donkey, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for The donkey, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire