Tiger! Tiger!

Thomson originally wrote this song in 1926 for high voice and piano, but the song was first published in its lower key as the second song in the song cycle Five Songs from William Blake of 1953.

Date: 1953Composer: Virgil ThomsonText: William BlakeSong Collection: Five Songs From William Blake

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Text

The Tyger
by William Blake

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 sieze 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 water’d 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?

Sheet Music

Five Songs From William Blake

Composer(s): Virgil Thomson

Voice Type: Low

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