In the Dawn

”In the Dawn” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1901 as his Op.41, No.1.

The words are from the poem “The Professor” by Arthur Christopher Benson. [A. C. Benson, "The Professor and Other Poems", London and New York, John Lane, 1900]

At about the same time Elgar wrote a song Speak, Music, as his Op.41, No.2, with words from the same poem.

The two songs were first performed in the Queen's Hall on 26th October 1901. They were dedicated to 'Mrs. Edward Speyer, Ridgehurst' - Antonia Kufferath, the Belgian-born soprano, wife of Elgar's friend Edward Speyer.

Lyrics

:Some souls have quickened, eye to eye,:And heart to heart, and instantly::They understand.

:Henceforth they can be cold no more;::Woes there may be, - ay, tears and blood,:But not the numbness, as before::They understood.

:Henceforth, though ages roll::Across wild wastes of sand and brine,:Whate’er betide, one human soul::Is knit with mine.

:Whatever joy be dearly bought,::Whatever hope my bosom stirs,:The straitest cell of secret thought::Is wholly hers.

:Ay, were I parted, life would be::A helpless, heartless flight along:Blind tracks in vales of misery::And sloughs of wrong.

:Nay, God forgive me!::Life would roll like some dim moon thro’ cloudy bars;:But to have loved her sets my soul::Among the stars

Recordings

* [http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Works-Songs-Piano-Music-By-Edward-Elgar-MP3-Download/11044195.html Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar] has "In the Dawn" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).

* [http://www.elgarfoundation.org/trolleyed/2/12/40/index.htm Elgar: Complete Songs for Voice & Piano] Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Reinild Mees (piano)

* [http://www.mvdaily.com/articles/2000/02/somm220.htm The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220] Neil Mackie (tenor) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999

References

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

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

External links