The Language of Flowers

The Language of Flowers

"The Language of Flowers" is a song with both words and music written by the English composer Edward Elgar and dated May 29th 1872, when he was only fourteen years old. [Percy M. Young "Elgar O.M." pp. 263-264 and an example] It is unpublished. It is inscribed "by Edward W. Elgar", with "words by Percival" (Elgar himself) and dedicated "to my sister Lucy on her birthday." It is possible that Elgar's mother (herself a poet) helped him with the words, and likely that he was influenced in its composition by the songs that he found in his father's music shop.

Lyrics

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

:In Eastern lands they talk in flow'rs::And they tell in a garland their loves and cares;:Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowr's,::On its leaves a mystic language bears.

:The rose is a sign of joy and love,::Young blushing love in its earliest dawn,:And the mildness that suits the gentle dove,::From the myrtle's snowy flow'rs is drawn.

:Innocence gleams in the lily's bell,::Pure as the heart in its native heaven.:Fame's bright star and glory's swell::By the glossy leaf of the bay are given.

:The silent, soft and humble heart,::In the violet's hidden sweetness breathes,:And the tender soul that cannot part,::In a twine of evergreen fondly wreathes.

:The cypress that daily shades the grave,::Is sorrow that moans her bitter lot,:And faith that a thousand ills can brave,::Speaks in thy blue leaves "forget-me-not".

:Then gather a wreath from the garden bowers,::And tell the wish of thy heart in flowers.

Recordings

[http://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Edward/dp/B00002610Y "The Unknown Elgar"] includes "The Language of Flowers" performed by Teresa Cahill (soprano), with Barry Collett (piano).

References

*Banfield, Stephen, "Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century" (Cambridge University Press, 1985) ISBN 052137944X

*Kennedy, Michael, "Portrait of Elgar" (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0193154145

*Young, Percy M., "Elgar O.M." (Collins, 1955)

Notes

External links


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