I wander through the woodland;
Peace to you days a-dying,
I tune a song the trees among;
But oft-times comes a-crying.
I know more than Apollo;
For oft when he lies sleeping
I see the stars at mortal wars;
And the rounded welkin weeping
The morn's my constant mistress;
The lovely owl my morrow
The flaming drake and the night crow make;
Me music to my sorrow
With a heart of furious fancies;
Where-of I am commander
With a burning spear and a horse of air;
To the wilderness I wander
With a knight of ghosts and shadows;
I summoned am to tourney
Ten leagues beyond the wideworld's end;
Me thinks it is no journey.
Adapted from "Wit and Drollery" 1661, author anonymous.
Set to music by Sir Edward Elgar
Sir Edward Elgar: was born with a relatively humble background on 2nd June 1857 in the small Worcestershire village of Lower Broadheath, his mother a farmers daughter, his father a piano tuner and proprietor of a music shop close to Worcester Cathedral. His musical talents were recognised and encouraged from an early age, becoming an accomplished violinist before progressing into composition.
As time went by Elgar’s music was brought to the attention of a wider audience at home and internationally, when his “Enigma Variations” were received to great acclaim by the musical world, success which was to be the stimulus, and signal the start of a long and wide ranging career in composition, a world wide reputation and fame. His prolific output of charicteristically English symphonic works, light concert pieces, oratorios, chamber music and songs, the most well known including: Symphonies No. 1 and No. 2; The Cello Concerto; Serenade for Strings; Introduction and Allegro for Strings; The Enigma Variations; The Pomp and Circumstance Marches; Salut d’Amour; and the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius, remains just as popular to this day with classical music audiences throughout the world.
Elgar, a devout Catholic married his wife Alice in 1889 and with their daughter, Carice, lived in many different places around Worcestershire and London during their lifetime. The composer’s interests outside music, included cycling and golf, literature, science and horse-racing. He continued to compose until his death in 1934 having received many prestigious awards including his knighthood from King Edward VII.
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Farthingale Publications: ..... Is a hobby web site containing articles of local interest to Lancastrians, some favourite walking and cycling routes,
selected words and poetry, and some writings of more general nature as well as the authors own picture gallery. Access is available via the homepage and menu at the head of the page
or via one of the direct links below.