The popular vocal score for elgar s dream of gerontius is shown below. The complete illlustrated premium scholars edition with all notes and extended commentary. He also composed choral works, including the dream of gerontius, chamber music and songs. The 20th centurys most beautiful oratorio was written right at the beginning technically, just a little before it. The dream of gerontius is an 1865 poem written by st john henry newman consisting of the prayer of a dying man, and angelic and demonic responses. Amid this rarity of elgar, another work has reared its head or hundreds of heads more frequently in the last decade or so. The premiere of elgars the dream of gerontius, which took place at birmingham. Among his bestknown compositions are orchestral works including the enigma variations, the pomp and circumstance marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. The best of me a gerontius centenary companion written by geoffrey hodgkins is an comprehensive account of the composition and performance history of the work. Dream of gerontius by edward elgar, paperback barnes. The dream of gerontius simple english wikipedia, the free.
Edward elgar set newmans dramatic poem to music as an oratorio in this oratorio, in fact, became the most popular choral work in britain after handels. Edward elgar has 168 books on goodreads with 123 ratings. It had been translated into french and german and was reprinted during newmans lifetime. Gerontius by elgar abebooks abebooks shop for books. The dream of gerontius barbirolli janet baker, richard lewis, kim borg duration. Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet om gcvo 2 june 1857 23 february 1934 was an english composer, many of whose works have ente. In telling the story of his journey, hamiltonpaterson explores the waning of creative genius.
Alto kyrie eleison semichorus kyrie eleison be merciful, be gracious i rescue him, o lord semichorus rescue him, o lord alto i rescue him, o lord alto ii. Elgar the dream of gerontius melodiya melcd1002266 jqrmo. The dream of gerontius edward elgar, john henry newman on. We will update ticketholders with more information as soon as we can. The dream of gerontius is a large musical work for choir, three solo singers and orchestra composed by edward elgar. The dream of gerontius, first published in 1865, is cardinal newmans epic poem describing the descent of gerontius, an everyman character, into death and purgatory. Gerontius proclaims elgar as an outsider in the musical establishment. New novello choral edition by edward elgar, john henry newman 2000 paperback by isbn. He had known elgar they first met around 1903 and was very highly thought of by the composer, who is on record as believing that the future of his music was safe in boults hands. The dream of gerontius elgar, edward, newman, john henry on. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally importa. Norman bailey baritone the priestangel of the agony london symphony chorus. Elgar disapproved of the use of the term oratorio for the work, though his wishes are not always followed.
Text by john henry newman wesley rogers, tenor gerontius soul of gerontius kendall gladen, mezzosoprano angel kevin deas, bass. Cardinal newmans words are beyond atrocious as poetry, and i find their sadomasochistic doctrinal underpinning sickening o happy, suffering soul. Gerontius then declares his faith in words which may be familiar from hymnbooks. Alexander brown tenor gerontius sarah walker mezzosoprano angel erin caves baritone priest. Elgar and the dream of gerontius conducting electricity. Ussr state symphony orchestrayevgeny svetlanov rec. Elgar said, my first music was learnt in the cathedral. The elgar society has several excellent pages dedicated to the dream of gerontius. Elgar s own performances were said to be operatic in their dramatic style, and as if to emphasise this view he said of gerontius sanctus. Based on a poem by john henry cardinal newman, it dispensed with the traditional admixture of recitatives, arias, and choruses, using instead a continuous musical texture as in the musical dramas of richard wagner. Gerontius is the story of a real voyage in the life of sir edward elgar, the celebrated composer of the quintessentially english tune land of hope and glory. The dream of gerontius by edward elgar, 9781298820075, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This is a must have for any elgar or choral music admirers. The dream of gerontius book by edward elgar, august.
Full text of the dream of gerontius internet archive. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. And once he has died, the story follows his soul through an encounter with angels and demons as he approaches the judgment of god. The original vocal score of gerontius was actually printed. Hamiltonpatersons first book nor his first novel to be. Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet, om, gcvo was an english composer, many of whose. Edward elgars the dream of gerontius is a splendid oratorio for mezzosoprano, tenor and bass with chorus and orchestra. Project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman.
Firmly i believe and truly, and praise to the holiest in the height. If a poem is not musi cal in expression, its metres fail ot producing the effect they are intended to produce. Elgar paints this astonishing journey in music of incredible psychological nuance. In sir edward elgar another major work, the oratorio the dream of gerontius, which many consider his masterpiece. Probably elgar s most popular choral work, the dream of gerontius demands a large choir and strong orchestra. Edward elgar s most popular book is the dream of gerontius, op. John henry newman articles and essays on the author of the poem.
The dream of gerontiussea pictures choir orchestral. Elgar completed his masterpiece, the dream of gerontius, in 1900 and, despite some resistance from the anglican church around the catholic dogma of some parts of cardinal newmans text, elgars extraordinary work eventually came to be regarded as the greatest oratorio. The complete illlustrated premium scholars edition with all notes and extended commentary by john henry newman, edward elgar, et al. The poem, written after newmans conversion from anglicanism to roman catholicism, explores his new catholicheld beliefs of the journey from death through paradise to god and thence to purgatory. He was the son of william henry elgar who was the owner. Britten boult hickox, elgar, edward dream of gerontius. Sir edward elgar 18571934 the dream of gerontius, op.
Edward elgar s the dream of gerontius is a splendid oratorio for mezzosoprano, tenor and bass with chorus and orchestra. Cardinal newmans poem the dream of gerontius was a wellknown and muchloved work in its own right by the time elgar came to set it to music in 1900. The encyclopedia is organised into 12 volumes around toplevel subjects that reflect some of the most pressing issues. Edward elgar, barbirolli, baker, lewis, borg elgar. The complete illlustrated premium scholars edition with all notes and extended commentary newman, john henry, elgar, edward, publishing, cby, publishing, cby on. This 2cd set contains a historic recording of elgar s amazing oratorio the dream of gerontius conducted by benjamin britten, performed by london symphony orchestra and chorus with kings college choir cambridge. Aug 07, 2008 today, elgars the dream of gerontius is a national monument. Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet om gcvo 2 june 1857 23 february 1934 was an english composer, many of whose works have entered the british and international classical concert repertoire. Edward elgar dream of gerontius op 38 vocal score choral. It is based on the epic poem, the dream of gerontius by john henry newman written in 1865. One hundred years ago last tuesday, elgars the dream of gerontius was first performed in birmingham town hall as part of the citys triennial.
Emi recorded gerontius under boult very near the end of the conductors active career. Gerontius is the journey of a sinning soul elgar was a roman catholic towards some measure of selfknowledge and humility thanks to the intervention of others. Holding back and knowing when to propel certain denouments with the right amount of both excitement and poise are crucial if the work is not to be a mere exegesis on death and. Edward elgar was born in worcester in 1857 and died in 1934. Books by edward elgar author of the dream of gerontius. A careful study of the dream of gerontius will show how musical it is, and how delicately the music of the verse changes with the themes. Paul groves sings the part of gerontius more convincingly than any other tenor today, his control and range of colour and dynamic fitting elgar. Feb 04, 2017 when there is an elgarsighting, its either limited to the enigma variations, the second symphony, or the cello concerto. Elgar dream gerontius abebooks shop for books, art. The original vocal score of gerontius was actually printed before elgars had even finalised or completed his final. Elgars the dream of gerontius rising from the ashes. Gerontiuss friends pray at his bedside with a kyrie eleison lord have mercy that begins in the a cappella semichorus. Apr 11, 2017 elgars the dream of gerontius rising from the ashes posted on april 11, 2017 by scott chamberlain edward elgars the dream of gerontius is frequently regarded as his masterpiecea towering oratorio noted for its complex score and profound religious message. The content platform for edward elgar publishings journals, reference works and books, including scholarly monographs, research handbooks, companions and more.
Sir edward william elgar, 1st baronet, om, gcvo lr. The dream of gerontius is unlike anything else in music. It relates the journey of a pious mans soul from his deathbed to his judgment before god and settling into purgatory. I imagined gerontius to be a man like us, elgar told jaeger. The elgar encyclopedia of environmental law is a landmark reference work, providing definitive and comprehensive coverage of this dynamic field. Its not an opera, yet it is highly dramatic, featuring three soloists, three choruses. As elgar completed the dream of gerontius, he himself wrote. Available in print as a 4 volume set and as an integrated online resource. Winner of the asil 2018 certificate of merit for high technical craftsmanship and utility to practicing lawyers and scholars. Oct 01, 2007 the dream of gerontius, first published in 1865, is cardinal newmans epic poem describing the descent of gerontius, an everyman character, into death and purgatory. The poem opens with the old mans realization that his time has come.
Elgar already knew the poem in 1887 when he had lent his copy to alice roberts, his future wife, when her mother died in the early summer. This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work. Oratorio in two parts for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. The dream of gerontius by elgar, sir edward, hill, david, bournemouth symphony chorus, waynflete singers, fryer, sarah, kendall, william, best, matthew from amazons classical music store. The dream of gerontius has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The dream of gerontius by elgar, edward and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Aug 07, 2008 the dream of gerontius synopsis the oratorio opens with an orchestral prelude laying out some of the themes that will take on special significance as the story unfolds. The piece is widely regarded as elgars finest choral work, and some consider it his masterpiece. The cruise up the amazon is a holiday for the disillusioned musicmaker. But at its first performance in birmingham, 105 years ago, the music was thought daring, even difficult, while the subject matter. The lush choral nonoratorio the dream of gerontius. At the rehearsals for the first performance, elgar urged the chorus not to sing as though they were in church, but with more tears in their voices, as though they were at the side of a dying friend.
Elgar himself said that he saw gerontius as a man like us, a sinner, a repentant one of course, but still no end of a worldly man in his life. Edward elgar quotes author of the dream of gerontius, op. This work was reproduced from the original artifact. The dream of gerontius paperback october 2, 20 by edward elgar author, john henry newman author. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. Among his bestknown compositions are orchestral works including the enigma variations, the pomp and circumstance marches. He was the son of william henry elgar who was the owner of a music shop and pianotuning business. Edward elgar quotes showing 11 of 1 my idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it and you simply take as much as you require. Mar 28, 2011 paul groves sings the part of gerontius more convincingly than any other tenor today, his control and range of colour and dynamic fitting elgar s vocal lines like a glove, while christine rices. Everyone who loves elgar acclaims the dream of gerontius as a masterpiece. With a worldclass editor team, 500 content items and authorship from almost 200 of the worlds foremost scholars, the encyclopedia is the.
A metaphysical music to newman s poetry edward elgar was born in worcester in 1857 and died in 1934. Elgar encyclopedia of environmental law available as 12 printed volumes 2 are forthcoming or as an integrated online resource. The two choral societies are coming together to perform this great work, under the baton of their musical director, richard brain, as a joint celebration of their 80th. Yvonne minton, peter pears and johnshirley quirk, the last two soloists are brittens. It is an oratorio, although elgar did not like it being called an oratorio, but this is how it is usually described. The dream of gerontius, popularly called just gerontius, is an oratorio opus 38 in two parts composed by edward elgar in 1900.
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