In Winter Cold / Whereat an Ant
Arranged for SSA a cappella
Originally scored for SST, William Byrd’s setting of Aesop’s fable of the Grasshopper and the Ant has been revoiced for two sopranos and one low alto.
Duration: 6:30 Difficulty: 4 (medium advanced)
Text: Geoffrey Whitney (c.1548–c.1601)
In Winter cold when tree and bush was bare
And frost had nipt the rootes of tender grasse,
The Ants with joy did feed upon their fare,
Which they had storde while Summer season was:
To whom for food a Grashopper did cry
And said she starved if they did help deny.
Whereat an Ant with long experience wise
And frost and snow, had many Winters seene,
Inquired what in Summer was her guise.
Quoth shee, I sung and hopt in meadowes greene.
Then quoth the Ant, content thee with thy chance,
For to thy song now art thou like to dance.
