Merchant Adventurers (Elgar)
Encyclopedia
"Merchant Adventurers" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes
, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar
. It was one of the songs (also known as the "Pageant of Empire
") written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire
at the British Empire Exhibition
on 21 July 1924.
The song refers to the merchant adventurers
who set sail from England in ships, to make their living in adventurous overseas trade. There are two verses, each with a refrain "...Glory, glory everlasting in the lordship of the sea" which may be sung by a chorus (SATB
) of mixed voices.
Alfred Noyes
Alfred Noyes was an English poet, best known for his ballads, "The Highwayman" and "The Barrel-Organ".-Early years:...
, and set to music by the English composer 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...
. It was one of the songs (also known as the "Pageant of Empire
Pageant of Empire (Elgar)
Pageant of Empire is the title given to a set of songs, to words by Alfred Noyes, written by the English composer Sir Edward Elgar and given important positions in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition.-Details:...
") written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire
Pageant of Empire
The Pageant of Empire was a set of historical pageants organised by the British government for the huge British Empire Exhibition held at the Empire Stadium in 1924. The Exhibition was opened on 23 April, and the Pageant was performed between 21 July and 30 August...
at the British Empire Exhibition
British Empire Exhibition
The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
on 21 July 1924.
The song refers to the merchant adventurers
Company of Merchant Adventurers of London
The Company of Merchant Adventurers of London brought together London's leading overseas merchants in a regulated company, in the nature of a guild. Its members' main business was the export of cloth, especially white broadcloth...
who set sail from England in ships, to make their living in adventurous overseas trade. There are two verses, each with a refrain "...Glory, glory everlasting in the lordship of the sea" which may be sung by a chorus (SATB
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
) of mixed voices.