Big Steamers
Encyclopedia
Big Steamers is a poem by Rudyard Kipling
, first published in 1911 as one of his twenty-three poems written specially for C. R. L. Fletcher's "A School History of England". It appears in the last chapter of the book. It is intended for children, with the verses responding with facts and humour to their curiosity about the 'big steamers' - as the merchant ships are called.
and Edward Elgar
.
German's setting was for baritone
voice with piano accompaniment, and published by Cramer in 1911.
Elgar set the poem to music late in World War I
, with the permission of Kipling, and it was published in "The Teacher's World", June 19, 1918. This was in response to a request from the Ministry of Food Control to set the poem to music, with the intention that it would be sung in schools and bring to the attention of children the importance of merchant ships - at a time when many ships had been lost to German U-boats and food rationing had just been introduced. It was a simple song with piano accompaniment, suitable for children, and the first music Elgar had written for about a year. Elgar wrote to Lord Rhondda:
At the last line the children are reminded of what was, at the time, a serious possibility:
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
, first published in 1911 as one of his twenty-three poems written specially for C. R. L. Fletcher's "A School History of England". It appears in the last chapter of the book. It is intended for children, with the verses responding with facts and humour to their curiosity about the 'big steamers' - as the merchant ships are called.
Songs
The poem has been set to music by two English composers: Edward GermanEdward German
Sir Edward German was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera.As a youth, German played the violin and led the town orchestra, also...
and Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
.
German's setting was for baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
voice with piano accompaniment, and published by Cramer in 1911.
Elgar set the poem to music late in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with the permission of Kipling, and it was published in "The Teacher's World", June 19, 1918. This was in response to a request from the Ministry of Food Control to set the poem to music, with the intention that it would be sung in schools and bring to the attention of children the importance of merchant ships - at a time when many ships had been lost to German U-boats and food rationing had just been introduced. It was a simple song with piano accompaniment, suitable for children, and the first music Elgar had written for about a year. Elgar wrote to Lord Rhondda:
- "The occasion seemed to call for something exceptionally simple and direct, and I have endeavoured to bring the little piece within the comprehension of very small people indeed."
Verses
There are seven verses. The first six verses begin with the children's questions and suggestions, each of which has a response from the personified Big Steamers:-
- 1. "Oh, where are you going to, all you Big Steamers,
-
- 2. "And where will you fetch if from, all you Big Steamers,
-
- 3. "But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers,
-
- 4. "Then I'll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers,
-
- 5. "Then I'll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers,
-
- 6. "Then what can I do for all you Big Steamers,
At the last line the children are reminded of what was, at the time, a serious possibility:
-
- 7. ... And if anyone hinders our coming, you'll starve."
Recordings
- Choir and piano: Big Steamers and other music by Elgar, performed by Barry Collett (piano) and Tudor Choir. On CD - The Unknown Elgar - Pearl SHECD9635
- Roderick Williams, Nicholas Lester, Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock/Guildford Philharmonic/Tom Higgins: Somm SOMMCD243 Higgins' arrangement of Elgar's song for four unaccompanied baritones, and his arrangement of German's song for baritone solo (Williams) and orchestra
See also
- Elgar's settings of four poems from Rudyard Kipling's The Fringes of the Fleet, composed earlier during the war
External links
- Big Steamers (notes by Peter Keating)
- Lyrics of Big Steamers on the Lied and Art Song Texts Page
- Rationing and World War I Describes the introduction of food rationing in 1918 and the importance of the merchant ships