Words and music have long been intertwined, in the form of literary references to music, words as music (poetry), and in musical settings of poetry (to name but a few). Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines composition as "an intellectual creation...a piece of writing...a written piece of music especially of considerable size and complexity." Throughout the ages poets and musicians have influenced each other in ways both serious and playful. Here we highlight selected collaborations between composers of poetry and music.

Benjamin Britten and W.H. Auden

Igor Stravinsky, W.H. Auden, and Chester Kallman