Four Shakespeare Songs (1965)

i. Come away, death (Twelfth Night) (1965)
ii. The wind and the rain (Twelfth Night) (1965)
iii. Take, O take those lips away (Measure for Measure) (1956)
iv. King Stephen (Othello) (1965)

These four songs, settings of familiar texts from Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure and Othello, were first performed during a BBC Broadcast by soprano Noelle Barker and pianist Wilfrid Parry on 20 April 1966. The first concert performance followed shortly afterwards and was given at the Cambridge University Music School by tenor Peter Birts accompanied by Giles Swayne.

The songs were published by Chester Music for the first time during Elizabeth Maconchy's centenary in 2007 to coincide with a performance by Philip Langridge accompanied by David Owen Norris as part of the Proms Chamber Music Series at Cadogan Hall, London, on 13 August.

The songs can be performed in any order.