| Words: Thomas Hood Music: Adrian Bell | Voice with piano accompaniment | Tempo: Siciliano | Duration: 3 minutes |
| Key: D minor | Intermediate – 4 | mystic pastoral | Year: 1992 |
A Lake and a Fairy Boat is a vocal setting of the poem by Thomas Hood (1799-1845):
A lake and a fairy boat
To sail in the moonlight clear, —
And merrily we would float
From the dragons that watch us here!
Thy gown should be snow-white silk,
And strings of orient pearls,
Like gossamers dipped in milk,
Should twine with thy raven curls!
Red rubies should deck thy hands,
And diamonds should be thy dower —
But Fairies have broke their wands,
And wishing has lost its power!
A lament for the passing of natural bounty, unrestrained fulfilment of desire and freedom of mind and soul, A Lake and a Fairy Boat simple yet sinister power lies in the sudden appearance of those watching, menacing superego-like dragons. The poem remains unique amongst Hood’s other work.
Later I arranged the melody of A Lake and a Fairy Boat for cello with either piano or guitar accompaniment. It is a beautiful song, full of dark magic, mystical beauty and innocent wonder, well-suited to the cello’s tender tenor register.
| Composer: Adrian Bell | Cello with piano/guitar accompaniment | Tempo: Siciliano | Duration: 3 minutes |
| Key: D minor | Intermediate – 7 | mystic pastoral | Year: 1992 |
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