Elgar: Solo songs with piano (1857–1900)
Complete Edition Volume 15
Expected to ship in 1-2 weeks.
- Composer: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Editor: Brian Trowell
- Format: Full Score – Hardcover
- Binding: Hardcover
- ISBN:
Description
Elgar's solo songs are not among his best known works and, as we have said before, there is a tendency to dismiss them as second-rate. That the latter is a consequence of the former – years of neglect leading to the false assumption that they are better left forgotten – is clearly demonstrated by this volume, and something it will hopefully help redress. Admittedly A War Song (first published as A Soldier's Song), ranks among the worst of Elgar's jingoistic pot-boilers; but alongside the world renowned Sea Pictures are the songs thought good enough by Ascherberg to republish as the 7 Lieder album (including four which composer Haydn Wood also thought good enough to arrange as orchestral miniatures); the powerful The Wind at Dawn , Elgar's first setting of words by his wife Alice; the delicate Dry those fair, those crystal eyes , which Elgar dashed off for the Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar; As I laye a-thynkynge , Elgar's setting of faux-mediæval words of Robert Harris Barham, creator of the Ingoldsby Legends; and a number of other equally delightful songs.
For the scholar, however, the thrill of the volume surely lies in the discovery among the unpublished works and fragments of two songs – The Millwheel (Winter) and Muleteer's Serenade – previously thought lost, or possibly to have been left as fragmentary sketches which Elgar later incorporated into his cantata King Olaf. Locating the sketches among other preparatory material for King Olaf presented no difficulty; and as the editorial process rolled back the layers of history to get at the works intended for piano accompaniment, we discovered not half-finished sketches but two fully-formed songs. Alice's diaries hint at a private performance of one of the songs; a first public performance of both songs will be given at Elgar's Birthplace on 2 June, the composer's birthday.
27 original solo songs:
The Language of Flowers ; The Self-Banished ;A War Song ; Through the Long Days ; Is She Not Passing Fair? ; As I Laye A-Thynkynge ; Queen Mary's Song ; Roundel: ‘The Little Eyes That Never Knew Light'; The Wind At Dawn ; Like to the Damask Rose ; The Poet's Life ; A Song of Autumn ; The Shepherd's Song ; The Mill Wheel (Winter); Muleteer's Serenade ; Rondel ; After ; A Song of Flight ; Love Alone Will Stay (Lute Song – the original version of ‘In Haven'); Dry Those Fair, Those Crystal Eyes ; The Pipes of Pan ; and the 5 Sea Pictures : ‘Sea-Slumber Song'; ‘In Haven' (Capri); ‘Sabbath Morning At Sea'; ‘Where Corals Lie'; ‘The Swimmer';
2 ‘arrangements':
Clapham Town End – a Yorkshire folk-song; and ‘Sabbath Morning At Sea' with accompaniment for organ and piano;
2 fragments:
Temple Bar Rondeau ; Ophelia's Song (the music later being re-used in The Light of Life)
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
Facsimile
Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
Hardcover
Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
Orchestral Parts
Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
With Audio
In addition to the printed music, the edition contains recordings of the pieces. This may be an included CD, or access to files on the internet.
With / Without Fingering (Markings)
Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Elgar: Solo songs with piano (1857–1900)
