The voice of the ancient bard

Youth of delight, come hither,
And see the opening morn,
Image of truth new-born.
Doubt is fled, and clouds of reason,
Dark disputes and artful teasing.
Folly is an endless maze,
Tangled roots perplex her ways.
How many have fallen there!
They stumble all night over bones of the dead,
And feel they know not what but care,
And wish to lead others, when they should be led.

by William Blake (1757-1827) , "The voice of the ancient bard", from Songs of Innocence and Experience, in Songs of Experience, no. 26, published 1794

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

by William Bolcom (1938-) , "The Voice of the Ancient Bard", 1956-81 [soloists, madrigal group, chorus, orchestra], from Songs of Experience, Volume Two, no. 1.
by Hayg Boyadjian (1938-) , "Hear the voice of the bard", 1978 [soprano, flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, cello and bass], from Song Cycle on Poems of William Blake, no. 3.
by Jean Coulthard (1908-2000) , "First Song of Experience", 1968, first performed 1968. [alto voice, piano]
by John H. Harbison (1938-) , "The voice of the ancient bard", 1971, published c1975, first performed 1973 [four soli, SATB chorus, string quartet, and percussion], from Five Songs of Experience, no. 4, New York, Associated Music Publishers

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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