Oh, soft was the song
Encyclopedia
"Oh, soft was the song" is a song with words by Gilbert Parker
set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar
in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 3. It is the second and last verse of a poem "At Sea" which Parker published in Volume I of a series of poems called "Embers". The Opus 59 songs were part of a song-cycle of six romantic songs by Parker that was never completed – Nos 1, 2 and 4 were never composed. The other songs were "Was it some Golden Star?
" and "Twilight
". The songs were originally written with piano accompaniment, but this was later re-scored by the composer for full orchestra.
The songs were composed between December 1909 and January 1910, and published by Novello's in 1910. Elgar's friend Edward Speyer sent him as a Christmas present some music scores of Beethoven String Quartets, and when Elgar thanked Speyer he added to his letter a quotation from Beethoven's Op.59 No.3.
The first performance was by Muriel Foster
at the Jaeger
Memorial Concert in the Queen's Hall
on 24 January 1910.
Gilbert Parker
Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker, 1st Baronet PC , known as Gilbert Parker, Canadian novelist and British politician, was born at Camden East, Addington, Ontario, the son of Captain J. Parker, R.A....
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...
in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 3. It is the second and last verse of a poem "At Sea" which Parker published in Volume I of a series of poems called "Embers". The Opus 59 songs were part of a song-cycle of six romantic songs by Parker that was never completed – Nos 1, 2 and 4 were never composed. The other songs were "Was it some Golden Star?
Was it some Golden Star?
"Was it some Golden Star?" is a poem written by Gilbert Parker, published in Volume I of a series of poems called "Embers". It was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 5....
" and "Twilight
Twilight (Elgar)
"Twilight" is a song with music by the English composer Edward Elgar written in 1910 as his Op. 59, No. 6. Elgar set the words of the poem "The Twilight of Love", from Volume 2 of a series of poems called "Embers" by Sir Gilbert Parker....
". The songs were originally written with piano accompaniment, but this was later re-scored by the composer for full orchestra.
The songs were composed between December 1909 and January 1910, and published by Novello's in 1910. Elgar's friend Edward Speyer sent him as a Christmas present some music scores of Beethoven String Quartets, and when Elgar thanked Speyer he added to his letter a quotation from Beethoven's Op.59 No.3.
The first performance was by Muriel Foster
Muriel Foster
Muriel Foster was an English contralto, excelling in oratorio. Grove's Dictionary describes her voice as "one of the most beautiful voices of her time"....
at the Jaeger
August Jaeger
August Jaeger was an Anglo-German music publisher, who developed a close friendship with the English composer Edward Elgar.Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Jaeger met Elgar through his employment at the London music publisher Novello...
Memorial Concert in the Queen's Hall
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect T.E. Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it was the home of the promenade concerts founded by Robert...
on 24 January 1910.
Lyrics
OH, SOFT WAS THE SONG- Oh, soft was the song in my soul, and soft beyond thought were they lips,
- And thou wert mine own, and Eden re-conquered was mine:
- And the way that I go is the way of thy feet, and the breath that I breathe
- It hath being from thee, and life from the life that is thine.
Recordings
- Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "Oh, soft was the song" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).
- Elgar: Complete Songs for Voice & Piano Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Reinild Mees (piano)
- The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Christopher Maltman (baritone) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999