Speak, Music

”Speak, Music” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1901 as his Op.41, No.2.

The words are from “The Song” in 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 In the Dawn, as his Op. 41, No. 1, 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

SPEAK, MUSIC

:Speak, speak, music, and bring to me:Fancies too fleet for me,:Sweetness too sweet for me,:Wake, wake, voices, and sing to me,:::Sing to me tenderly; bid me rest.

:Rest, Rest! ah, I am fain of it!:Die, Hope! small was my gain of it!::Song, [song] take thy parable,::Whisper, whisper that all is well,:Say, say that there tarrieth:Something, something more true than death.:::Waiting to smile for me; bright and blest.

:Thrill, thrill, string: echo and play for me:All, all that the poet, the priest cannot say for me;:Soar, voice, soar, heavenwards, and pray for me,:::Wondering, wandering; bid me rest.

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 "Speak, Music" 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] Catherine Wyn-Rogers (soprano) 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