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.
