shakespeare

“Gravedigger’s Song”

for soprano and piano (2006)

From Three Songs for Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Duration: 2:30 minutes

Premiere: April 28, 2006

Musicians: Kit Wallach (soprano), Dylan Schneider (piano)

New Music Ensemble

Amherst College

Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act II, Scene V [selection]:

Setting: A Churchyard

FIRST CLOWN: Digs and sings

In youth, when I did love, did love,

Methought it was very sweet,

To contract, O, the time, for, ah, my behove,

O, methought, there was nothing meet.

HAMLET: Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that

he sings at grave-making?

FIRST CLOWN: Sings

But age, with his stealing steps,

Hath claw'd me in his clutch,

And hath shipped me intil the land,

As if I had never been such.

Throws up a skull [...]

A pick-axe, and a spade, a spade,

For and a shrouding sheet:

O, a pit of clay for to be made

For such a guest is meet.

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