"The Immortal Legions" 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 poem is of quiet grief and thanksgiving in remembrance of those who died in the achievement of victory.

In the event, the song introduced "A Pageant of Heroes".

The song starts after a short introduction, pensively, in a minor key, with the solo voice which is joined by a simple ostinato

Ostinato

In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...

-like bass line. The gentle middle section seems to show the sentiment of hope. The song ends triumphally in the relative major key

Relative key

In music, relative keys are the major and minor scales that have the same key signatures. A major and minor scale sharing the same key signature are said to be in a relative relationship...

, with words of thanksgiving.

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

Recordings

• The CD with the book Oh, My Horses! Elgar and the Great War has many historical recordings including The Immortal Legions, a 1985 recording with Anthony Ransome (baritone), Kensington Choir and Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leslie Head

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