Blow, blow thou winter wind (Thomas Arne)
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Music files
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= HELP- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2007-08-24). Score information: A4, 3 pages Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. Scorch and PDF options available.
General Information
Title: Blow, blow thou winter wind
Composer: Thomas Arne
Lyricist: William Shakespeare, from As you like it (Act 2 Scene 7 lines 172-188)
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: SAB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: c.1760
Description: A well-known glee in a slightly unfamiliar (contemporary) arrangement.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Blow, blow thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
as man's ingratitude.
Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
as benefits forgot.
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen.
Although thy breath be rude.
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp,
As friends remembered not.
French translation
by Henri Dupraz
Souffle, souffle, ô vent d'hiver,
Tu n'es pas si blessant
Qu'ingratitude humaine.
Gèle, gèle, âpre ciel,
Tes crocs sont moins cruels
Que bontés oubliées.
Ta dent est moins acérée
Car tu es invisible,
Pour rude que soit ton souffle.
Bien que tu enchaînes les eaux,
Ta morsure est moins vive
Qu'amitié délaissée.



