"Sailing Westward" is a poem written by Alfred Noyes

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 descriptively commemorates the adventurous English sea-captains who sailed to "... chase the setting sun ... westward, thro' the thund'ring gales".

Elgar used exactly the same music for another song in the set, called "The Islands

The 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"...

".

This song was also arranged by the composer as a part-song.

Recordings

• The CD "The Unknown Elgar" has Sailing Westward and The Immortal Legions
  The 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...
  
  , Tudor Choir directed by Barry Collett, with Ken Burley (piano) PEARL SHE CD 9635