Was it some Golden Star?

"Was it some Golden Star?" is a poem written by Gilbert Parker, and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1910, as his Op. 59, No. 5.

The Opus 59 songs were part of a song-cycle of six romantic songs that was never completed – strangely Nos 1, 2 and 4 were never composed. The other songs were "Oh, soft was the song" and "Twilight". The songs were originally written with piano accompaniment, but this was later re-scored by the composer for full orchestra.

The songs were composed between December 1909 and January 1910, and published by Novello's in 1910. The first performance was at the Jaeger Memorial Concert [Elgar's friend August Jaeger died on May 18th 1909, and the music for the funeral was provided by Dr. Walford Davies. The organisation of a Memorial Concert took time, and that concert was not until eight months later.] in the Queen's Hall on January 24th 1910.

Lyrics

WAS IT SOME GOLDEN STAR? :Once in another land,::Ages ago,:You were a queen, and I,::I loved you so::Where was it that we loved--::Ah, do you know?

:Was it some golden star::Hot with romance?:Was it in Malabar,::Italy, France?:Did we know Charlemagne,::Dido, perchance?

:But you were a queen, and I::Fought for you then::How did you honour me-–::More than all men!:Kissed me upon the lips;::Kiss me again.

:Have you forgotten it,::All that we said?:I still remember though::Ages have fled.:Whisper the word of life,--::“Love is not dead.”

Recordings

* [http://www.elgarfoundation.org/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_CD0286&url=http://www.elgarfoundation.org/trolleyed/2/51/index.htm Elgar: The Collector's Edition, CD 29] Robert Tear (tenor), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley (conductor)

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

References

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

*cite book | last=Young | first=Percy M. | title=Elgar O.M.: a study of a musician | location=London | publisher=Collins| year=1973 | oclc=869820

Notes

External links