Peter Bloesch Listen

Choral ~ General ~ A Cappella



“You Spotted Snakes”

(An original setting of the Shakespeare poem)



SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO   /   SCORE SAMPLE

SCORING:  SATB a cappella (some divisi)

DURATION:  ca. 1:45   —   DIFFICULTY:  3/5   —   PAGES IN PDF SCORE:  9

HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER   —   PDF:  $50 (for all the copies you need)

NOTES:
♦  This is song #3 in “Three Shakespeare Songs for Choir a Cappella.”
♦  You can perform this piece individually, or as part of the complete set.
♦  If you purchase the complete set, the PDF price is $65, saving you $70!



DESCRIPTION

This charming poem is a lullaby for Titania in Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream.”

The text alternates between fanciful admonitions against any creatures that might disturb the Fairy Queen's sleep, and a request that Philomel (the nightingale) lull the Queen to sleep. 

Thus, my music alternates between being playfully mysterious and lyrically soothing.

TEXT INFO

You Spotted Snakes

From Act II of William Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream”

Complete text:

You spotted snakes with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts and blindworms, do no wrong,   ["blindworms" = a type of lizard]
Come not near our Fairy Queen!

      Philomel, with melody   ["Philomel" = a poetic name for nightingale]
      Sing in our sweet lullaby.
      Never harm, nor spell nor charm,
      Come our lovely lady nigh;
      So, good night, with lullaby.

Weaving spiders, come not here;
Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence!
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm nor snail, do no offence.

      Philomel, with melody
      Sing in our sweet lullaby.
      Never harm, nor spell nor charm,
      Come our lovely lady nigh;
      So, good night, with lullaby.

Watch video below!