The Blue Mountains (Elgar)

Last updated

"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 (collectively known as the "Pageant of Empire") written to be performed in the Pageant of Empire at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley Park, London, on 21 July 1924. [1] [2]

The song is subtitled "A Song of Australia". It refers to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, and the pioneers who went westward to new lands beyond them.

Related Research Articles

<i>In the South (Alassio)</i>

In the South (Alassio), Op. 50, is a concert overture composed by Edward Elgar during a family holiday in Italy in the winter of 1903 to 1904. He was working on a symphony, but the local atmosphere inspired him instead to write what some have seen as a tone poem, with an Italian flavour. At about 20 minutes' duration it was the composer's longest sustained orchestral piece to that time.

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 Sir Edward Elgar wrote the music as his Op. 66, with a libretto by Henry Hamilton. The masque consisted of two tableaux: "The Cities of Ind" and "Ave Imperator!".

"Pleading" is a poem written by Arthur L. Salmon, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1908, as his Op.48.

"The Language of Flowers" is an unpublished song from a poem by the American geologist and poet James Gates Percival, with music written by the English composer Edward Elgar when he was only fourteen years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wind at Dawn</span>

"The Wind at Dawn" is a poem written by Caroline Alice Roberts, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1888.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shepherd's Song</span>

”The Shepherd’s Song” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1892. The words are by Barry Pain.

”Through the Long Days” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1885 as his Op.16, No.2. The words are from a poem by the American writer and statesman John Hay.

”Queen Mary's Song” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1889. The words are from Lute Song by Tennyson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come, Gentle Night!</span>

"Come, Gentle Night!" is a poem by Clifton Bingham set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A War Song</span>

"A War Song", originally called "A Soldier's Song", was a poem written by C. Flavell Hayward and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1884.

"Follow the Colours" is a marching song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1907, with words by Capt. William de Courcy Stretton. The song is for male voice solo with an optional male voice chorus, accompanied by piano, orchestra or military band.

"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 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 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 at Wembley Park on 21 July 1924.

"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 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.

"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, Wembley Park, on 21 July 1924.

"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, though this particular song was not performed at the Pageant.

The Pageant of Empire was name given to various historical pageants celebrating the British Empire which were held in Britain during the early twentieth century. For example there was a small Pageant of Empire at the town of Builth Wells in 1909. In 1911 a giant Pageant of Empire took place at the Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, where thousands of amateur performers acted out historical scenes The most notable was the Pageant of Empire which took place in London in 1924.

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 at Wembley Park.

References

  1. Kennedy, Michael (1987). Portrait of Elgar (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 181, 356. ISBN   0-19-284017-7.
  2. Moore, Jerrold Northrop (1999). Edward Elgar: A Creative Life. Oxford University Press. p. 768. ISBN   978-0-19-816366-4.