Texts by W. Auden set in Art Songs and Choral Works

§ Author §

W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)

Text Collections:

Texts set in art song or choral works (not necessarily comprehensive):

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The symbol [x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database.
A * indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.
Special notes: All titles and first lines are included in this index, including those used by composers.
Titles used by the text author appear in boldface. First lines appear in italics.
A language code in a blue rectangle like ENG indicates that a translation to that language is available.
A grey rectangle like FRE indicates a particular translation (usually one set to music) exists but isn't yet available.

Academic Graffiti (My first name, Wystan) (from Homage to Clip) - L. Smit *
A curse (Dark was that day when Diesel) - R. Escher *
A drink man, quick! (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) [x] * - F. Routh
All the others translate [x] * - D. Hagen, J. Lang-Hyde (The composer)
Among the leaves the small birds sing (from The Shield of Achilles) * - L. Berkeley, W. Mellers (Lauds)
As I listened from a beach-chair in the shade * - N. Rorem (Their lonely betters)
As it is, plenty (As it is, plenty) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten *
As it is, plenty (from Look, Stranger!) * - B. Britten
As I walked out one evening (As I walked out one evening) - G. Gibbs, J. Hall, E. Lutyens, N. Rorem *
As I walked out one evening * - R. Bennett, G. Gibbs, J. Hall, E. Lutyens, N. Rorem (Song)
A song for St. Cecilia's Day (I. In a garden shady this holy lady) - R. Warren *
At peace under this mandarin, sleep, Lucina * - H. Henze
At the manger (Berceuse triste) (O shut your bright eyes that mine must endanger) - S. Wilkinson [x] *
At the party (Unrhymed, unrhythmical, the chatter goes) - K. Schoonenbeek *
Babies in their mothers' arms (Infants in their mothers' arms) (from The Double Man) - L. Drakeford [x] *
Ballad: O What Is That Sound? (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear) - J. Beeson *
Ballad: O where are you going? (O where are you going? said reader to rider) - J. Beeson *
Ballad (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear) *
Before this loved one [x] * - C. Duncan
Calypso (Driver, drive faster and make a good run) (from Another Time) - B. Britten, J. Musto *
Canon (Released by love) (from For the Time Being) - N. Fulton [x] *
Canticle (O Unicorn among the cedars) - D. Young [x] *
Carry her over the water (Carry her over the water) - L. Berkeley, J. Cohn, P. Dickinson, G. Gibbs, M. Horder, J. Lang-Hyde, W. Rogers *
Carry her over the water * - L. Berkeley, J. Cohn, P. Dickinson, G. Gibbs, M. Horder, J. Lang-Hyde, D. Pinkham, W. Rogers, R. Swift
Chorale after an Old French Carol (Our fathers whose creative will asked being for us all) - B. Britten [x] *
Chorale (Our Father, whose creative Will) (from For the Time Being) - B. Britten [x] *
Clocks cannot tell our time of day (from The Double Man) * - L. Foss, J. Hall
Closing Hymn: Alive in a Moment () - D. Hagen [x] *
Cunarder Waltz (You were a great Cunarder, I) - L. Clair [x] *
Dark was that day when Diesel * - R. Escher
Dear, though the night is gone (Dear, though the night is gone) - J. Lang-Hyde, N. Rorem *
Dear, though the night is gone * - J. Lang-Hyde, N. Rorem (The dream)
Death's echo (O who can ever gaze his fill,") - J. Hall *
Driver, drive faster and make a good run (from Another Time) * - B. Britten, J. Musto (Calypso)
Earth, receive an honoured guest * - E. Maconchy
Elegy for J. F. K. (When a just man dies) - I. Stravinsky *
Epilogue and Funeral March (Our hunting fathers told the story) - B. Britten *
Epitaph on a tyrant (Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after) - R. Smith *
Epithalamium (Carry her over the water) - R. Swift *
Europe lies in the dark *
Everything is so strangely removed today (Everything is so strangely removed today) - A. Payne [x] *
Everything is so strangely removed today [x] * - A. Payne
Eyes look into the well (Eyes look into the well) - L. Berkeley, P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Senator *
Eyes look into the well * - L. Berkeley, P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Senator
Fish in the unruffled lakes (Fish in the unruffled lakes) - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde *
Fish in the unruffled lakes * - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde
Funeral Blues (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone) (from The Ascent of F6) - B. Britten *
Happy ending (The silly fool, the silly fool) (from Poems) - P. Dickinson, C. Duncan [x] *
He disappeared in the dead of winter * - E. Maconchy
He is the way (He is the way) (from For the Time Being) - A. Bliss [x] *
He is the way (from For the Time Being) [x] * - A. Bliss
He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be * - D. Cohen (The unknown citizen)
Holding the distance up before his face [x] * - J. Lang-Hyde (The traveller)
How foolish the man who does not raise FRE * - S. Barber
Hush-a-bye, Baby (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) [x] * - F. Routh (Lullaby)
Hymn to St Cecilia (I. In a garden shady this holy lady) - B. Britten *
I cannot grow (I. In a garden shady this holy lady) - G. Gibbs, J. Lang-Hyde *
I cannot grow * (Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day) - B. Britten, G. Gibbs, W. Graves, J. Lang-Hyde, as Lewis Hyde, R. Warren
If I could tell you (Time will say nothing but I told you so) - R. Escher, J. Hall *
I. In a garden shady this holy lady * - B. Britten, G. Gibbs, W. Graves, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Warren (Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day)
I listen to the wind (I listen to the wind) - A. Payne [x] *
I listen to the wind [x] * - A. Payne
In a garden shady, this holy lady * (Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day) - B. Britten, G. Gibbs, W. Graves, J. Lang-Hyde, as Lewis Hyde, R. Warren
Incantations (Lights are moving) (from The Age of Anxiety: A Baroque Eclogue) - Y. Yannay [x] *
Infants in their mothers' arms (from The Double Man) [x] * - L. Drakeford
In Memoriam L. K. A. 1950-1952 (At peace under this mandarin, sleep, Lucina) - H. Henze *
In Memory of W.B. Yeats I (Earth, receive an honoured guest) - E. Maconchy *
In Memory of W.B. Yeats II (He disappeared in the dead of winter) - E. Maconchy *
Into me he breathed his spirit (Into me he breathed his spirit) - A. Payne [x] *
Into me he breathed his spirit [x] * - A. Payne
Invocation to Ariel (Sing, Ariel, sing) (from For the Time Being) - J. Rimmer [x] *
It's farewell to the drawing room's civilised cry * - B. Britten
I wanted to know (I wanted to know) - A. Payne [x] *
I wanted to know [x] * - A. Payne
Johnny (O the valley in the summer where I and my John) (from Another Time) - B. Britten, M. Horder *
Lauds (Among the leaves the small birds sing) (from The Shield of Achilles) - L. Berkeley, W. Mellers *
Lay your sleeping head, my love (Lay your sleeping head, my love) - H. Henze, J. Lang-Hyde *
Lay your sleeping head, my love * - R. Drakeford, J. Hall, H. Henze, M. Horder, J. Lang-Hyde, S. Wheeler, S. Wilkinson (Lullaby)
Lay your sleeping head, my love * (Poem) - R. Drakeford, J. Hall, H. Henze, M. Horder, J. Lang-Hyde, as Lewis Hyde, S. Wheeler, S. Wilkinson
Leap before you look (The sense of danger) - L. Talma [x] *
Let the florid music praise! (Let the florid music praise) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten, P. Dickinson, D. Pinkham *
Let the florid music praise (from Look, Stranger!) * - B. Britten, P. Dickinson, D. Pinkham (Song)
Liebe l'amour amor amoris * (O tell me the truth about love) - B. Britten
Lights are moving (from The Age of Anxiety: A Baroque Eclogue) [x] * - Y. Yannay
Like a dream (This lunar beauty) (from Poems) - J. Lang-Hyde *
Little fellow, you're amusing (from Two songs) [x] * - F. Routh
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well * - N. Rorem (The more loving one)
Look stranger, at this island now (Look, stranger, at this island now) (from Look, Stranger!) - P. Dickinson, D. Pinkham, N. Small, J. Stevens *
Look, stranger, at this island now (from Look, Stranger!) * - B. Britten, M. Burtch, P. Dickinson, D. Pinkham, N. Small, J. Stevens (Seaside)
Lullaby (Lay your sleeping head, my love) (Lay your sleeping head, my love) - M. Horder *
Lullaby (Hush-a-bye, Baby) (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) - F. Routh [x] *
Lullaby (Lay your sleeping head, my love) - R. Drakeford, J. Hall, S. Wheeler, S. Wilkinson *
Madrigal (O lurcher-loving collier, black as night) - R. Orton *
May my heart's disquiet never vanish (May my heart's disquiet never vanish) - A. Payne [x] *
May my heart's disquiet never vanish [x] * - A. Payne
My first name, Wystan, rhymes with Tristan (from Homage to Clip) * (Academic Graffiti) - M. Bialosky, L. Smit
My first name, Wystan (from Homage to Clip) * - M. Bialosky, L. Smit (Academic Graffiti)
My second thoughts condemn (My second thoughts condemn) (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) - L. Drakeford [x] *
My second thoughts condemn (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) [x] * - P. Dickinson, L. Drakeford
My second thoughts (My second thoughts condemn) (from The Collected Poetry of W. H. Austen) - P. Dickinson [x] *
New Year letter (O Unicorn among the cedars) [x] *
Night covers up the rigid land (Night covers up the rigid land) (from Look, Stranger!) - L. Berkeley, B. Britten *
Night covers up the rigid land (from Look, Stranger!) * - L. Berkeley, B. Britten, C. Duncan
Nocturne (Now through night's caressing grip) (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) - B. Britten *
No time (Clocks cannot tell our time of day) (from The Double Man) - J. Hall *
Not to be born () - M. Horder [x] *
Now it is summer morning (Now it is summer morning) - A. Payne [x] *
Now it is summer morning [x] * - A. Payne
Now the leaves are falling fast (Now the leaves are falling fast) - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde *
Now the leaves are falling fast * - B. Britten, J. Lang-Hyde
Now through night's caressing grip (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) * - B. Britten
O ear whose creatures cannot wish to fall * (Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day) - B. Britten, G. Gibbs, W. Graves, J. Lang-Hyde, as Lewis Hyde, R. Warren
O lift your little pinkie, and touch the winter sky * - B. Britten
O lurcher-loving collier, black as night * - L. Berkeley, J. Lang-Hyde, R. Orton, R. Senator (Madrigal)
O lurcher-loving collier, black as night (O lurcher-loving collier, black as night) - L. Berkeley *
O lurcher-loving collier (O lurcher-loving collier, black as night) - J. Lang-Hyde, R. Senator *
One circumlocution () - L. Segerstam [x] *
One evening (As I walked out one evening) - R. Bennett *
Orpheus () - L. Segerstam [x] *
O shut your bright eyes that mine must endanger [x] * - S. Wilkinson
O tell me the truth about love (Some say that Love's a little boy) *
O the valley in the summer where I and my John (from Another Time) * - B. Britten, M. Horder, J. Lang-Hyde (Johnny)
O the valley in the summer (O the valley in the summer where I and my John) (from Another Time) - J. Lang-Hyde *
O Unicorn among the cedars [x] * - D. Young (New Year letter)
Our fathers whose creative will asked being for us all [x] * - B. Britten
Our Father, whose creative Will (Our Father, whose creative Will) (from For the Time Being) - V. Persichetti [x] *
Our Father, whose creative Will (from For the Time Being) [x] * - B. Britten, V. Persichetti
Our hunting fathers told the story * - B. Britten (Poem)
Out on the lawn I lie in bed (Out on the lawn I lie in bed) - B. Britten *
Out on the lawn I lie in bed * - B. Britten (Summer Night)
Over the heather the wet wind blows (from Another Time) * - P. Dickinson, A. Harvey, J. Lang-Hyde (Roman Wall Blues)
Over the heather (Over the heather the wet wind blows) (from Another Time) - P. Dickinson, J. Lang-Hyde *
O what is that sound which so thrills the ear * - J. Beeson, W. Bennett, D. Hagen, R. Kreuger (Ballad)
O what is that sound (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear) - R. Kreuger *
O where are you going? said reader to rider * - J. Beeson, N. Rorem
O where are you going (O where are you going? said reader to rider) - N. Rorem *
O who can ever gaze his fill," * - J. Hall (Death's echo)
Pangur, white Pangur FRE * - S. Barber
Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after * - D. Hagen, R. Smith (Epitaph on a tyrant)
Petition (Sir, no man's enemy, forgiving all) (from Poems) - M. Saffle *
Poem (Lay your sleeping head, my love) *
Poem (Our hunting fathers told the story) *
Prologue (They are our past and our future; the poles between) - B. Britten *
Refugee Blues (Say this city has ten million souls) - M. Fairouz, E. Lutyens *
Released by love (from For the Time Being) [x] * - N. Fulton
Rimbaud (The nights, the railway-arches, the bad sky) - H. Henze *
Roman Wall Blues (Over the heather the wet wind blows) (from Another Time) - A. Harvey *
Rondo: O What is That Sound (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear) - D. Hagen *
Round (Released by love) (from For the Time Being) - N. Fulton [x] *
Say this city has ten million souls * - M. Fairouz, E. Lutyens (Refugee Blues)
Scherzo - Dance of Death (It's farewell to the drawing room's civilised cry) - B. Britten *
Scherzo: In Moments of Joy () - D. Hagen [x] *
Seascape (Look, stranger, at this island now) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten, M. Burtch *
Seaside (Look, stranger, at this island now) (from Look, Stranger!) *
Seen when night is silent (Seen when night is silent) (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
Seen when night is silent (from The Dog Beneath the Skin) [x] * - J. Lang-Hyde
Seven Academic Graffiti (My first name, Wystan) (from Homage to Clip) - M. Bialosky *
She looked over his shoulder (from The Shield of Achilles) POL * - B. Kelly (The shield of Achilles)
Shepherd's carol (O lift your little pinkie, and touch the winter sky) - B. Britten *
Sing agreeably of love (Carry her over the water) - D. Pinkham *
Sing, Ariel, sing (from For the Time Being) [x] * - J. Rimmer
Sir, no man's enemy, forgiving all (from Poems) * - M. Saffle
Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago (Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago) - A. Payne [x] *
Some day you will be one of those who lived long ago [x] * - A. Payne
Some say that Love's a little boy * - B. Britten (O tell me the truth about love)
Song: Epitaph on a Tyrant (Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after) - D. Hagen *
Song for St. Cecilia's Day (I. In a garden shady this holy lady) - W. Graves *
Song of the ogres (Little fellow, you're amusing) (from Two songs) - F. Routh [x] *
Song of the soldier before the inn (A drink man, quick!) (from Delos - Songs from Mutter Courage) - F. Routh [x] *
Songs from "Markings" [song cycle] () (from Markings) - A. Strilko [x] *
Song: The Composer (All the others translate) - D. Hagen [x] *
Song (As I walked out one evening) *
Song (Let the florid music praise) (from Look, Stranger!) *
Song (Warm are the still and lucky miles) (from Another Time) *
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone) (from The Ascent of F6) - T. Southam *
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone (from The Ascent of F6) * - B. Britten, W. Davies, M. Horder, B. Roe, N. Rorem, T. Southam
Stop all the clocks (Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone) (from The Ascent of F6) - W. Davies, M. Horder, B. Roe, N. Rorem *
Such a day of sweetness (Such a day of sweetness) - J. Vlijmen [x] *
Such a day of sweetness [x] * - J. Vlijmen
Summer Night (Out on the lawn I lie in bed) *
Tarcza Achillesa () - Z. Bargielski [x]
Tell me the truth about love (Some say that Love's a little boy) - B. Britten *
That night when joy began (That night when joy began) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
That night when joy began [x] * - J. Lang-Hyde
The composer (All the others translate) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
The decoys (There are some birds in these valleys) - J. Rimmer *
The dream (Dear, though the night is gone) *
The garrison () - D. Hagen [x] *
Their Lonely Betters (As I listened from a beach-chair in the shade) - N. Rorem *
The monk and his cat (Pangur, white Pangur) - S. Barber FRE *
The more loving one (Looking up at the stars, I know quite well) - N. Rorem *
The nights, the railway-arches, the bad sky * - H. Henze
The one (Before this loved one) - C. Duncan [x] *
The praises of God (How foolish the man who does not raise) - S. Barber FRE *
The quarry (O what is that sound which so thrills the ear) - W. Bennett *
There are some birds in these valleys * - J. Rimmer (The decoys)
The sense of danger [x] * - L. Talma (Leap before you look)
The shield of Achilles (She looked over his shoulder) (from The Shield of Achilles) - B. Kelly POL *
The silly fool, the silly fool (from Poems) [x] * - P. Dickinson, C. Duncan
The spear has been cast (The spear has been cast) - A. Payne [x] *
The spear has been cast [x] * - A. Payne
The sun shines down (The sun shines down) - B. Britten [x] *
The sun shines down [x] * - B. Britten
The traveller (Holding the distance up before his face) - J. Lang-Hyde [x] *
The Twelve (Without arms or charm of culture) - W. Walton *
The unknown citizen (He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be) - D. Cohen *
They are our past and our future; the poles between * - B. Britten
This lunar beauty (This lunar beauty) (from Poems) - J. Rimmer *
This lunar beauty (from Poems) * - J. Lang-Hyde, J. Rimmer
Three songs for St. Cecilia's Day (I. In a garden shady this holy lady) *
Time will say nothing but I told you so * - R. Escher, J. Hall
To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed (from Look, Stranger!) * - B. Britten
To lie flat on the back (To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten *
Tommy did as mother told him * - J. Weiss
Tommy (Tommy did as mother told him) - J. Weiss *
Underneath an abject willow (Underneath an abject willow) (from Look, Stranger!) - J. Cohn, L. Drakeford GER *
Underneath an abject willow (from Look, Stranger!) GER * - B. Britten, J. Cohn, L. Drakeford, T. Southam
Underneath the abject willow (Underneath an abject willow) (from Look, Stranger!) - B. Britten, T. Southam GER *
Underneath the abject willow (from Look, Stranger!) GER *
Under the familiar weight [x] * (New Year letter) - D. Young
Unrhymed, unrhythmical, the chatter goes * - K. Schoonenbeek (At the party)
Variations: Orpheus () - D. Hagen [x] *
Warm are the still and lucky miles (from Another Time) * - R. Escher, R. Senator (Song)
Warm are the still and lucky miles (Warm are the still and lucky miles) (from Another Time) - R. Escher, R. Senator *
We're late (Clocks cannot tell our time of day) (from The Double Man) - L. Foss *
What did I experience that evening (What did I experience that evening) - A. Payne [x] *
What did I experience that evening [x] * - A. Payne
What's in your mind, my dove, my coney? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney) - L. Berkeley *
What's in your mind, my dove, my coney * - L. Berkeley, B. Britten, P. Dickinson
What's in your mind? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney) - B. Britten *
What's on your mind, my dove, my coney? (What's in your mind, my dove, my coney) - P. Dickinson *
When a just man dies * - I. Stravinsky (Elegy for J. F. K.)
When you're feeling like expressing your affection (When you're feeling like expressing your affection) - B. Britten [possibly misattributed] *
When you're feeling like expressing your affection [possibly misattributed] * - B. Britten
Without arms or charm of culture * - W. Walton
You were a great Cunarder, I [x] * - L. Clair

Last update: 2022-05-17 00:18:21