From Bard to Verse – the original music of Shakespeare’s plays

'Tis 400 years since the Bard left this life

And bequeathèd the second best bed to his wife,

So here is our tribute in th’ guise of a show,

Read to the bottom and then you will know

That Shakespeare’s plays were bursting with song

To drive on the story, or p’raps sing along;

Yet in Bardic productions producèd today

You rare will have heard this sweet muse in t’ play:

So come hear The Night Watch put right this cruel wrong,

With strings and with reeds and with bow and with tongue,

Recorders you’ll hear, and with lutes they will labour,

Cittern and crumhorn, rebec, pipe and tabor,

Bagpipes, bandora, bray harp and more,

Shawm and gemshorn, guitar and mandore,

With period clothes to wear for your pleasure,

And music t’ delight you, measure for measure.