musicians for several centuries, and provide a legacy that is still cherished a hundred years later. The vision of the musician as both ‘the dreamer of dreams’ and mover and shaker of the world’ must have ‘the been one that Elgar instinctively connected with. Nor is O’Shaunessey’s poem always modest about the impact the work of the musician can have on humanity. Phrases such as breath of our inspiration is the life ‘A of each generation’ and men! It must ever be that we dwell, in our ‘O dreaming and singing, a little apart from ye’ are poetic and flamboyant and rife for the maestoso treatment that Elgar was so renowned for. And yet, in many ways this setting is a deeply personal and reflective one. A major feature of the work is the number of quotes Elgar makes from his own music themes from the two symphonies and the Violin – Concerto make appearances, and more notably in the very centre of the work (fifth stanza) the text on one man’s soul it hath broken, a light ‘But is set to Nimrod from the Variations’. that doth not depart’ ‘Enigma in the first stanza is accompanied by by lone sea-breakers’ ‘Wandering the opening of the Pictures’ (a piece that is also for solo alto and ‘Sea orchestra), and on several occasions the words or ‘dreams’ ‘dreamers’ make use of themes from what is perhaps Elgar’s best choral work Dream of Gerontius’. ‘The quotes are not intended to reflect Elgar as a hero (as Richard Strauss was doing with his self-quotes in Heldenleben’) but rather ‘Ein as the self-sacrificing artist thoughtful and inspirational, apart from and – yet a vital part of humanity. The alto soloist plays a major role in two large sections in stanzas five – and six (‘They had no vision amazing…’) and the final stanza (‘Great hail! we cry to the comers from the dazzling unknown shore’). These more than any are personal affirmations of the noble and vital role of the creative soul and in particular that of the musician. hail!’ we do – ‘Great indeed cry to those who are yet to come and whose role it will be to dream, to inspire and to us your song’s new numbers’ for the next ‘teach century and beyond. 5 Words by Arthur O’Shaughnessy Ode –
musicians for several centuries, and provide a legacy that is still cherished a hundred years later. The vision of the musician as both ‘the dreamer of dreams’ and ‘the mover and shaker of the world’ must have been one that Elgar instinctively connected with. Nor is O’Shaunessey’s poem always modest about the impact the work of the musician can have on humanity. Phrases such as ‘A breath of our inspiration is the life of each generation’ and ‘O men! It must ever be that we dwell, in our dreaming and singing, a little apart from ye’ are poetic and flamboyant and rife for the maestoso treatment that Elgar was so renowned for. And yet, in many ways this setting is a deeply personal and reflective one. A major feature of the work is the number of quotes Elgar makes from his own music – themes from the two symphonies and the Violin Concerto make appearances, and more notably in the very centre of the work (fifth stanza) the text ‘But on one man’s soul it hath broken, a light that doth not depart’ is set to Nimrod from the ‘Enigma Variations’. ‘Wandering by lone sea-breakers’ in the first stanza is accompanied by the opening of the ‘Sea Pictures’ (a piece that is also for solo alto and orchestra), and on several occasions the words ‘dreams’ or ‘dreamers’ make use of themes from what is perhaps Elgar’s best choral work ‘The Dream of Gerontius’. quotes are not intended to reflect Elgar as a hero (as Richard Strauss was doing with his self-quotes in ‘Ein Heldenleben’) but rather as the self-sacrificing artist – thoughtful and inspirational, apart from and yet a vital part of humanity. The alto soloist plays a major role in two large sections – in stanzas five and six (‘They had no vision amazing…’) and the final stanza (‘Great hail! we cry to the comers from the dazzling unknown shore’). These more than any are personal affirmations of the noble and vital role of the creative soul – and in particular that of the musician. ‘Great hail!’ we do indeed cry to those who are yet to come and whose role it will be to dream, to inspire and to ‘teach us your song’s new numbers’ for the next century and beyond. 5 Words by Arthur O’Shaughnessy – Ode
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