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{{Short description|Song cycle by Edward Elgar}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Italic title}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
'''''Sea Pictures, Op. 37''''' is a song cycle by Sir [[Edward Elgar]] consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for [[contralto]] and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar. Many [[mezzo-soprano]]s have sung the piece.
'''''Sea Pictures, Op. 37''''' is a song cycle by Sir [[Edward Elgar]] consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for [[contralto]] and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar. Many [[mezzo-soprano]]s have sung the piece.


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* "[[The Swimmer (poem)|The Swimmer]]" by [[Adam Lindsay Gordon]] (approximately 5 minutes)
* "[[The Swimmer (poem)|The Swimmer]]" by [[Adam Lindsay Gordon]] (approximately 5 minutes)


Much of the vocal line of the first song, "Sea Slumber Song," is heard again in other parts of the cycle; most notably, the second stanza is heard again almost in its entirety as part of the finale.
Much of the vocal line of the first song, "Sea Slumber Song", is heard again in other parts of the cycle; most notably, the second stanza is heard again almost in its entirety as part of the finale.


== History ==
== History ==
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While the cycle is heard most often in its canonical form for contralto and symphony orchestra, it can also be performed as a work for voice and piano, and in recent years some sopranos have taken up the work using Elgar's original keys.
While the cycle is heard most often in its canonical form for contralto and symphony orchestra, it can also be performed as a work for voice and piano, and in recent years some sopranos have taken up the work using Elgar's original keys.


In 2010, the British composer Donald Fraser made a version of Sea Pictures for SATB chorus and strings. The first recording of that version was made by the [[English Chamber Orchestra]], Rodolfus Choir and conductor [[Kenneth Woods]] in [[Abbey Road Studios]] in 2013. Fraser's arrangement was hailed by Stephen Johnson in BBC Music Magazine as "beautifully realised, performed with warmth and understanding, and sympathetically recorded." <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eso.co.uk/cd-review-bbc-music-magazine-on-elgar-sea-pictures-and-piano-quintet-arr-donald-fraser/|title=Elgar arr. Fraser - Piano Quintet and Sea Pictures.|last=Johnson|first=Stephen|date=July 2016|website=BBC Music Magazine}}</ref>
In 2010, the British composer Donald Fraser made a version of Sea Pictures for [[SATB]] chorus and strings. The first recording of that version was made by the [[English Chamber Orchestra]], Rodolfus Choir and conductor [[Kenneth Woods]] in [[Abbey Road Studios]] in 2013. Fraser's arrangement was hailed by Stephen Johnson in BBC Music Magazine as "beautifully realised, performed with warmth and understanding, and sympathetically recorded."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eso.co.uk/cd-review-bbc-music-magazine-on-elgar-sea-pictures-and-piano-quintet-arr-donald-fraser/|title=Elgar arr. Fraser - Piano Quintet and Sea Pictures.|last=Johnson|first=Stephen|date=July 2016|website=BBC Music Magazine}}</ref>


Fraser has also made a version of the work for SATB chorus and large symphony orchestra.
Fraser has also made a version of the work for SATB chorus and large symphony orchestra.
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*[[Mary Jarred]], contralto; The BBC Orchestra, Section F; Clarence Raybould, conductor ''Elgar's Interpreters on Record, Volume 5: Broadcasts from the Leech Collection at the British Library (1935–1950)'' Elgar Society EECD003-005 ("Sea Slumber Song" complete, "Sabbath Morning at Sea" to bar 84, "The Swimmer" bars between 74 and 107 are missing)
*[[Mary Jarred]], contralto; The BBC Orchestra, Section F; Clarence Raybould, conductor ''Elgar's Interpreters on Record, Volume 5: Broadcasts from the Leech Collection at the British Library (1935–1950)'' Elgar Society EECD003-005 ("Sea Slumber Song" complete, "Sabbath Morning at Sea" to bar 84, "The Swimmer" bars between 74 and 107 are missing)
*[[Della Jones]], [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Charles Mackerras]] ''The British Music Collection – Edward Elgar'' Decca 4732492
*[[Della Jones]], [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Charles Mackerras]] ''The British Music Collection – Edward Elgar'' Decca 4732492
* Rosemarie Lang, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Hans-Peter Frank c/w [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]] ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]'' and [[Gösta Nystroem]] ''Sănger vid havet (Songs at the Sea)'' ''Wagner / Nystroem / Elgar: Lieder'' BIS-CD-530
* [[Rosemarie Lang]], Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Hans-Peter Frank c/w [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]] ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]'' and [[Gösta Nystroem]] ''Sănger vid havet (Songs at the Sea)'' ''Wagner / Nystroem / Elgar: Lieder'' BIS-CD-530
* Claire-Louise Lucas (mezzo-soprano), Jonathan Darnborough (piano) Claudio Bohema CB5258-2 (This is the version with piano accompaniment.)
* Claire-Louise Lucas (mezzo-soprano), Jonathan Darnborough (piano) Claudio Bohema CB5258-2 (This is the version with piano accompaniment.)
*[[Leila Megane]], Unidentified Orchestra, [[Edward Elgar]] (first complete recording made on 11 October 1922, with Elgar conducting) available in ''The Elgar Edition'' GEMMCDS 9951–5 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080513090804/http://www.pavilionrecords.com/ Pavilion Records]). ''Leila Megane'' Sain SCD2316 includes three songs from ''Sea Pictures''.
*[[Leila Megane]], Unidentified Orchestra, [[Edward Elgar]] (first complete recording made on 11 October 1922, with Elgar conducting) available in ''The Elgar Edition'' GEMMCDS 9951–5 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080513090804/http://www.pavilionrecords.com/ Pavilion Records]). ''Leila Megane'' Sain SCD2316 includes three songs from ''Sea Pictures''.
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== References ==
== References ==
* {{cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Kennedy (music critic) |date=1987 |title= Portrait of Elgar |edition=Third |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-284017-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Kennedy (music critic) |date=1987 |title= Portrait of Elgar |edition=Third |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-284017-7}}


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* Elgar, Edward ''Sea Pictures: A Cycle of Five Songs for Contralto'' with German translation by Dr. Wilhelm Henzen and French words by George Petilleau Boosey & Hawkes Ltd. (Sheet music with libretti)
* Elgar, Edward ''Sea Pictures: A Cycle of Five Songs for Contralto'' with German translation by Dr. Wilhelm Henzen and French words by George Petilleau Boosey & Hawkes Ltd. (Sheet music with libretti)
* Leistra Jones, Karen "'The Deeps have Music Soft and Low’: Sounding the Ocean in Elgar’s Sea Pictures." In ''Music and Letters'', vol. 97, no. 1 (2016): 61-99. https://doi.org/10.1093/ml/gcw009
* McGuire, Charles Edward "Three Journeys, Two Paths: Locating the Lyric and Dramatic in Elgar’s ''Sea Pictures''." In ''The Sea in the British Musical Imagination'', ed. Eric Saylor and Christopher M. Scheer. Boydell Press, 2015. Pp. 179-203.


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060214162945/http://www.americansymphony.org/dialogues_extensions/season/dialogue_detail.cfm?ID=19&season=2003-2004 Fred Kirshnit]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060214162945/http://www.americansymphony.org/dialogues_extensions/season/dialogue_detail.cfm?ID=19&season=2003-2004 Fred Kirshnit]
* [http://users.ox.ac.uk/~cont0230/Elgar%20VW%20talk/BLtalk.html The Songs of Elgar and Vaughan Williams]
* [http://users.ox.ac.uk/~cont0230/Elgar%20VW%20talk/BLtalk.html The Songs of Elgar and Vaughan Williams]
* [[Michael Kennedy (music critic)|Michael Kennedy]] [http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/_downloads/File/Elgar%202007/Elgar%20Sea%20Pictures.pdf?PHPSESSID=pf74fnqnv263gd70u Sea Pictures, Op. 37]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [[Michael Kennedy (music critic)|Michael Kennedy]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010313/http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/_downloads/File/Elgar%202007/Elgar%20Sea%20Pictures.pdf?PHPSESSID=pf74fnqnv263gd70u Sea Pictures, Op. 37]
* [http://numabe.exblog.jp/m2007-08-01/ CD Discography of "Sea Pictures" op. 37 by Edward Elgar]
* [http://numabe.exblog.jp/m2007-08-01/ CD Discography of "Sea Pictures" op. 37 by Edward Elgar]
* [http://www.sydneysymphony.com/sysfiles/attachments/PROG41_081107_Elgar2_SSO.pdf Sydney Symphony programme notes]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (pp.&nbsp;8–11)
* [http://www.sydneysymphony.com/sysfiles/attachments/PROG41_081107_Elgar2_SSO.pdf Sydney Symphony programme notes]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (pp.&nbsp;8–11)
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{{Edward Elgar}}
{{Edward Elgar}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Song cycles by Edward Elgar]]
[[Category:Song cycles by Edward Elgar]]
[[Category:Classical song cycles in English]]
[[Category:Classical song cycles in English]]
[[Category:1899 compositions]]
[[Category:1899 compositions]]
[[Category:Orchestral songs]]

Latest revision as of 17:31, 22 May 2024

Sea Pictures, Op. 37 is a song cycle by Sir Edward Elgar consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for contralto and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar. Many mezzo-sopranos have sung the piece.

The songs are:[1]

Much of the vocal line of the first song, "Sea Slumber Song", is heard again in other parts of the cycle; most notably, the second stanza is heard again almost in its entirety as part of the finale.

History

[edit]

Elgar composed the piece on his 1894 Broadwood Square piano while residing at Birchwood Lodge, Great Storridge in Herefordshire. The songs were originally written in high keys for a soprano voice, but transposed to lower keys for the orchestral version, largely at the request of the contralto Clara Butt.[citation needed] The songs were composed in July 1899 (apart from "In Haven (Capri)", which was a reworking of his 1897 "Love alone will stay").[2]

The premiere was on 5 October 1899 at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival with Elgar himself conducting and Clara Butt singing, dressed as a mermaid.[2] On 7 October, Clara Butt gave the first London performance at St. James's Hall, with Elgar at the piano. Nearly two weeks later, on 20 October, Butt performed it for Queen Victoria at Balmoral.

Until August 1900, Elgar's songs had been published by Novello: but Elgar had a disagreement with them, and from then his songs, including "The Pipes of Pan" and Sea Pictures were published by Boosey & Hawkes, who bought the copyright for £50, with a small royalty per copy of the songs published separately.

Sea Pictures was also published in the following languages:

  • German: See-Bilder with words by Dr. Wilhelm Henzen
  • French: Marines with words by George Petilleau.

Other versions

[edit]

While the cycle is heard most often in its canonical form for contralto and symphony orchestra, it can also be performed as a work for voice and piano, and in recent years some sopranos have taken up the work using Elgar's original keys.

In 2010, the British composer Donald Fraser made a version of Sea Pictures for SATB chorus and strings. The first recording of that version was made by the English Chamber Orchestra, Rodolfus Choir and conductor Kenneth Woods in Abbey Road Studios in 2013. Fraser's arrangement was hailed by Stephen Johnson in BBC Music Magazine as "beautifully realised, performed with warmth and understanding, and sympathetically recorded."[3]

Fraser has also made a version of the work for SATB chorus and large symphony orchestra.

Recording

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Kennedy, p.344–345
  2. ^ a b Kennedy, p.101
  3. ^ Johnson, Stephen (July 2016). "Elgar arr. Fraser - Piano Quintet and Sea Pictures". BBC Music Magazine.
  4. ^ Kennedy, p.366 [verification needed]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Elgar, Edward Sea Pictures: A Cycle of Five Songs for Contralto with German translation by Dr. Wilhelm Henzen and French words by George Petilleau Boosey & Hawkes Ltd. (Sheet music with libretti)
  • Leistra Jones, Karen "'The Deeps have Music Soft and Low’: Sounding the Ocean in Elgar’s Sea Pictures." In Music and Letters, vol. 97, no. 1 (2016): 61-99. https://doi.org/10.1093/ml/gcw009
  • McGuire, Charles Edward "Three Journeys, Two Paths: Locating the Lyric and Dramatic in Elgar’s Sea Pictures." In The Sea in the British Musical Imagination, ed. Eric Saylor and Christopher M. Scheer. Boydell Press, 2015. Pp. 179-203.
[edit]