Pageant of Empire (Elgar)
Encyclopedia
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
.
The songs were published by Enoch & Sons. They are
Nos. 1 - 7 are for solo singer with accompaniment.
No. 2 "The Islands", No. 5 "Sailing Westward", and three other poems by Noyes: "Indian Dawn", "The Cape of Good Hope
" (for South Africa
) and "Gloriana" (Queen Elizabeth I
) were also arranged for chorus SATB
and have the same musical accompaniment.
No. 7 "The Immortal Legions" was also arranged for chorus SATB
.
No. 8 "A Song of Union" is a part-song for chorus SATB
written for but not actually performed in the Pageant.
Three movements from Elgar's "The Crown of India
" were included in the Pageant, representing "The Early Days of India": the Introduction, the March of the Mogul Emperors and the Crown of India March.
Elgar composed his Empire March for the same occasion, and it was at that time considered part of the Pageant of Empire. However the Empire March was not performed then and Elgar's Imperial March took its place.
The orchestral scores and parts for all the songs with the exception of Immortal Legions and the March have been lost, but they have been orchestrated by conductor Martin Yates
and recorded complete on Dutton Epoch by Baritone Roderick Williams with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates
Alfred Noyes
Alfred Noyes was an English poet, best known for his ballads, "The Highwayman" and "The Barrel-Organ".-Early years:...
, written by the English composer Sir 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...
and given important positions 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...
.
Details
The songs were first performed when the Pageant opened on 21 July 1924, when they were conducted by the composer.The songs were published by Enoch & Sons. They are
- 1. "Shakespeare's KingdomShakespeare's Kingdom"Shakespeare's Kingdom" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The song is about the English poet, William Shakespeare,...
" - 2. "The IslandsThe Islands (Elgar)"The Islands" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The song is subtitled "A Song of New Zealand"...
(A Song of New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
)" - 3. "The Blue MountainsThe Blue Mountains (Elgar)"The Blue Mountains" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The song is subtitled "A Song of Australia"...
(A Song of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
)" - 4. "The Heart of CanadaThe Heart of Canada"The Heart of Canada" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The song refers to Canada as a member of the British Empire...
" - 5. "Sailing WestwardSailing Westward"Sailing Westward" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The song descriptively commemorates the adventurous English...
" - 6. "Merchant AdventurersMerchant Adventurers (Elgar)"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 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...
" - 7. "The Immortal LegionsThe Immortal Legions"The Immortal Legions" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924.The poem is of quiet grief and thanksgiving in remembrance of...
" - 8. "A Song of UnionA Song of Union"A Song of Union" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar. It was one of the songs written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition on 21 July 1924...
"
Nos. 1 - 7 are for solo singer with accompaniment.
No. 2 "The Islands", No. 5 "Sailing Westward", and three other poems by Noyes: "Indian Dawn", "The Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
" (for South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) and "Gloriana" (Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
) were also arranged for 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...
and have the same musical accompaniment.
No. 7 "The Immortal Legions" was also arranged for 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...
.
No. 8 "A Song of Union" is a part-song for 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...
written for but not actually performed in the Pageant.
Three movements from Elgar's "The Crown of India
The Crown of India
The Crown of India, was a masque, an elaborate theatrical presentation, staged in 1912 to celebrate the visit the preceding December of King George V and Queen Mary to Delhi for their coronation as Emperor and Empress of India. For this masque, the English composer Edward Elgar wrote the music as...
" were included in the Pageant, representing "The Early Days of India": the Introduction, the March of the Mogul Emperors and the Crown of India March.
Elgar composed his Empire March for the same occasion, and it was at that time considered part of the Pageant of Empire. However the Empire March was not performed then and Elgar's Imperial March took its place.
The orchestral scores and parts for all the songs with the exception of Immortal Legions and the March have been lost, but they have been orchestrated by conductor Martin Yates
Martin Yates
Martin Yates is a British conductor.Studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London where his teachers included Bernard Keeffe , Richard Arnell , Ian Lake, Jakob Kaletsky & Alan Rowlands and Douglas Moore & John Burden .Conducting debut 1983 with Israel National Opera...
and recorded complete on Dutton Epoch by Baritone Roderick Williams with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates
Recordings
- The CD with the book Oh, My Horses! Elgar and the Great War has many historical recordings including
- The Immortal Legions, a 1975 recording with Anthony Ransome (baritone), Kensington Choir and Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leslie Head
- A Song of Union, a 1975 recording by the Kensington Choir and Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leslie Head
- The CD "The Unknown Elgar" has Sailing Westward and The Immortal Legions, Tudor Choir directed by Barry Collett, with Ken Burley (piano) PEARL SHE CD 9635
- Elgar Pageant of Empire & Sea Pictures Roderick Williams (Baritone) BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin YatesMartin YatesMartin Yates is a British conductor.Studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London where his teachers included Bernard Keeffe , Richard Arnell , Ian Lake, Jakob Kaletsky & Alan Rowlands and Douglas Moore & John Burden .Conducting debut 1983 with Israel National Opera...
on Dutton Epoch