The reed player (Macleod, set by J. Foulds, G. Bantock) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I saw one put a hollow reed to his lips. 
It was a forlorn, sweet air that he played, 
an ancient forgotten strain learned 
of a shepherding woman upon the hills. 
The Song of Songs it was that he played: 
and the beating of hearts was heard, and I heard sighs, 
and a voice like a distant bird-song rose and fell.
"Play me a song of Death," I said. 
Then he, who had the hollow reed at his lips smiled, 
and he played again the Song of Songs.

Authorship

Fiona Macleod (1885-1905) [pseudonym]

From the Hills of Dream

The Silence of Amor

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

Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (1868-1946)

Celtic Songs

John Herbert Foulds (1880-1939)

Mood-Pictures

Date added to the website: 2008-08-18.

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