These songs were written for the Old Vic production of Shakespeare 's The Tempest in 1962. The original instrumentation was Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Timpani, Harp, Bells and Harpsichord. The instrumentation in this edition (Piccolo doubling Flute, Clarinet in B flat, Horn in F, optional percussion (small Bass Drum and Bells) and Harpsichord or Piano) is Tippett 's revised version. When the accompaniment is played on a harpsichord the crescendo and diminuendo marks may be regarded as guides to phrasing and interpretation.