Come unto these yellow sands

 

Come Unto These Yellow Sands - (1989)   

William Shakespeare

from "The Tempest"
for countertenor and piano 


 

Ariel:         Come unto these yellow sands, and then take hands;
                    curtsied when you have and kissed the wild waves whist,
                    foot it featly here and there;
                    and, sweet sprites, the burden bear.
                    Hark! Hark! Bow-wow!
                    The watchdogs bark.
                    Bow-wow-wow-wow!
                    I hear the strain of the strutting chanticleer cry
                    cock-a-diddle-dow! Cock-a-diddle-dow!

[ 2 pages, circa 1' 00" ]


 

The magical quality of Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest called to mind settings for a countertenor, to set this character apart from the remainder of the cast. This conjuring of the "sprites" to do Prospero's bidding is composed with a repetitive motive reminiscent of various liturgies' repetitious forms. The other setting for this character which was completed in Cardiff, Wales, is Where the bee sucks.

 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.

 

Come unto these yellow sands