poems & songs

These poems and songs can be downloaded for free. But in return we would please ask you to make a small donation to support the work of The Orpheus Centre. Click here to make a donation..

Click the titles below to download a pdf version of the poem or song of your choice. If you are having trouble try right clicking the title and using the "SAVE TARGET or LINK AS" command.

Songs with sheet music

© Richard Stilgoe

Joyce the Librarian also available as a Sibelius file
Mrs Beamish also available as a Sibelius file
THE W I Calendar also available as a Sibelius file

Poems about music

© Richard Stilgoe

The Ancient Marriner
Birth of the ’Cello, The
Glyndebourne
Piano, The
Sonnet on a World Without Music
Steve
Very First Music, the Very Last Music , The
Violin Farm
Who Pays the Piper - also download the MP3 recording.

Other poems

© Richard Stilgoe

Army Wife
Caithness Self-lift Chair
Cheese on Toast
Granny’s German Hip
Hairdrier
I Loved a Surgeon
Marineland
Night Before Christmas, The
Peace and Tranquility
Erica Thirl’s Dog

 

Narrations for existing pieces

The Young Person’s guide to the Orchestra.
Words © Richard Stilgoe
Music by Benjamin Britten.

Don Juan
Poems © Richard Stilgoe
music by Richard Strauss

Enigma, The
Poems © Richard Stilgoe
Music by Edward Elgar