Written during my residency at the Brevard Music Center, these William Blake settings of The Lamb (for Coloratura Soprano and solo Violoncello) and the The Tyger (for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano) were performed in collaboration with members of the Janiec Opera Company.

Poem by
William Blake
(1757–1827)

The Lamb

Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed, ?
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight, ?
Softest clothing, woolly, bright; ?
Gave thee such a tender voice, ?
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee. ?
He is called by thy name, ?
For He calls Himself a Lamb. ?
He is meek, and He is mild; ?
He became a little child. ?
I a child, and thou a lamb, ?
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee! ?
Little Lamb, God bless thee!

The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire? ?What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart? ?
And when thy heart began to beat, ?
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain? ?
In what furnace was thy brain? ?
What the anvil? what dread grasp ?
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears, ?
And watered heaven with their tears, ?
Did he smile his work to see? ?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright  
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?