Song Cycle by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

1. Shakespeare's Kingdom

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958) , "Shakespeare's Kingdom"

When Shakespeare came to London
He met no shouting throngs;
He carried in his knapsack
A scroll of quiet songs.

No proud heraldic trumpet
Acclaimed him on his way;
Their court and camp have perished;
The songs live on for ay.

Nobody saw or heard them,
But, all around him there,
Spirits of light and music
Went treading the April air.

He passed like any pedlar,
Yet he had wealth untold.
The galleons of th' armada
Could not contain his gold.

The kings rode on to darkness.
In England's conquering hour,
Unseen arrived her splendour;
Unknown, her conquering power.

2. The Islands (A Song of New Zealand)

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

[--- This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. ---]

3. The Blue Mountains (A Song of Australia)

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

Over the Blue Mountains
The sun at evening went;
And there was nought beyond them,
And we were well content.

Yet, over the Blue Mountains,
As birds at evening may,
Though there was nought beyond them,
Our dreams began to stray.

The Southern Cross came riding,
Like Gabriel overhead,
Up to the shining summits;
We followed where it led.

We left the world behind us --
The mists of time unfurled.
And over the Blue Mountains
We found a greater world.

4. The Heart of Canada

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

  July 1912

Because her heart is all too proud
 -- Canada! Canada! fair young Canada --
To breathe the might of her love aloud,
Be quick, O Motherland!
Because her soul is wholly free
-- Canada kneels, thy daughter, Canada --
England, look in her eyes and see,
Honour and understand.

Because her pride at thy masthead shines,
 -- Canada! Canada! -- queenly Canada
Bows with all her breathing pines,
All her fragrant firs.
Because our isle is little and old
 -- Canada! Canada! -- young-eyed Canada
Gives thee, Mother, her hands to hold,
And makes thy glory hers.

Because thy Fleet is hers for aye,
 -- Canada! Canada! -- clear-souled Canada,
Ere the war-cloud roll this way,
Bids the world beware.
Her heart, her soul, her sword are thine
 -- Thine the guns, the guns of Canada! --
The ships are foaming into line,
And Canada will be there.

5. Sailing westward

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

[--- This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. ---]

6. Merchant adventurers

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

[--- This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. ---]

7. The Immortal Legions

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

[--- This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. ---]

8. A Song of Union

Authorship

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

[--- This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. ---]

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Classical Vocal Repertoire