Obscure Music Monday: Elgar's A Song of Autumn
Sir Edward Elgar, 1st Baronet (June 2, 1857 - February 23, 1934) was an English composer, born to musically inclined parents Edward's father, William, was a piano tuner, and apprenticed at a music publishing house, in addition to being a violinist, and organist at a church. Edward was given piano and violin lessons growing up, but didn't have any real formal training; the most formal training he got was some advanced violin lessons in London, but he never attended a conservatory or anything similar. In addition to playing violin professionally, Elgar also conducted a group at an asylum, where he wrote and arranged music for their irregular instrumentation, which helped him gain a better understanding of writing for particular instruments, and was an important piece of his musical development. Elgar would go on to write concertos, symphonies, other orchestral works, chamber music, and many songs, including A Song of Autumn. Written in 1892, it's based on the poem of the same name by Adam Lindsay Gordon, and was dedicated to "Miss Marshall."
Where shall we go for our garlands glad
At the falling of the year,
When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad,
When the boughs are yellow and sere?
Where are the old ones that once we had,
And where are the new ones near?
What shall we do for our garlands glad
At the falling of the year?Child! can I tell where the garlands go?
Can I say where the lost leaves veer
On the brown-burnt banks, when the wild winds blow,
When they drift through the dead-wood drear?
Girl! When the garlands of next year glow,
You may gather again, my dear—
But I go where the last year's lost leaves go
At the falling of the year.
After a brief piano introduction, the work settles in to rhythmic theme of a quarter note followed by two eighth notes, giving the work a very calm, contemplative feel, as the vocalist begins asking their questions. At the second verse, Elgar writes with an urgency and intensity that is heard clearly in the vocal line, and echoed in the piano, but then returns to its calmer state, much like the beginning, after reaching an intense and passionate peak.
Here are some recordings of this work for you to enjoy!