Shop for Music

About the Composer

Joshua Shank

The music of Boston-based composer, Joshua Shank (b. 1980), has been called “jubilant…ethereal” (Santa Barbara News-Press), “evocative and atmospheric” (Gramophone), and “emotionally charged” (Boston Classical Review). He has been commissioned by organizations such as the Lorelei Ensemble, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the Choral Project, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Association for Music...

Learn More About Joshua Shank

Joshua Shank (B&F Music)

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Name: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
SKU: BF-024
Availability: InStock

Joshua Shank

A modern lullaby that quotes a familiar tune at its climax.

Choral

mixed choir

1-2 instruments

Difficulty: 4

Duration: 5-10 min.

BF-024

Add to cart

SATB, SB soli, and cello

Based on the famous poem by Eugene Field, this “modern lullaby” tells the tale of three drowsy children setting off on an adventure as the child listening to their story slowly falls asleep. At the height of the piece, a portion of the famous Brahms lullaby is prominently played by the cello.

Composer’s Notes

Eugene Field’s classic poem is beautiful, comforting and has, more than likely, been recited to millions of children throughout the English-speaking world before they fall asleep. I first came into contact with the text, oddly enough, when it was used in the 1993 film version of Dennis the Menace in a scene where the elderly Mrs. Wilson is trying to put Dennis to bed. That heartwarming scene piqued my interest and, combined with a familiar melody my grandmother taught me as a child, led to this piece.

-Joshua Shank

Text

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe—

Sailed off on a river of crystal light,

Into a sea of dew.

“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”

The old moon asked the three.

“We have come to fish for the herring fish

That live in the beautiful sea;

Nets of silver and gold have we!”

Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,

As they rocked in the wooden shoe,

And the wind that sped them all night long

Ruffled the waves of dew.

The little stars were the herring fish

That lived in the beautiful sea—

“Now cast your nets wherever you wish—

Never afraid are we;”

So cried the stars to the fisherman three:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw

To the stars in the twinkling foam—

Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe

Bringing the fisherman home;

‘Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed

As if it could not be,

And some folks thought ‘twas a dream they’d dreamed

Of sailing that beautiful sea—

But I shall name you the fisherman three:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

Is the wee one’s trundle-bed.

So shut your eyes while mother sings

Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

As you rock in the misty sea,

Where the old shoe rocked the fisherman three:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.