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Created with Myriad's Harmony Assistant-Virtual Singer.
Though
the last written, the "Fantasia on the Willow Song" is the middle
movement of the "Symphonies on Ancient Tunes". Unlike the other two
movements, the original tune is, here, sung at the beginning and end of the
Fantasia by David W. Solomons with my own accompaniments each time, although it
is performable in purely orchestral form if need be.
The words and music of the Willow Song are both by that great and prolific
poet and composer, Anonymous, and appear to date from the early 17th century.
Shakespeare famously quotes the poem in his "Othello" with a gender
change. It is sung by Desdemona before she is murdered by Othello.
The poor soul sat sighing
by a sycamore tree,
Sing O the green willow.
With his hand in his bosom
and his head upon his knee,
