Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Speak, Music!

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

”Speak, Music!” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1901 as his Op.41, No.2.

Contents

The words are from “The Song” in the poem “The Professor” by A. C. Benson. It was dedicated to 'Mrs. Edward Speyer, Ridgehurst'.

At about the same time Elgar wrote a song In the Dawn, as his Op. 41, No. 1, with words from the same poem. The two songs were first performed in the Queen's Hall on 26 October 1901.

Lyrics

SPEAK, MUSIC

Speak, speak, music, and bring to me Fancies too fleet for me, Sweetness too sweet for me, Wake, wake, voices, and sing to me, Rest, Rest! ah, I am fain of it! Die, Hope! small was my gain of it! Say, say that there tarrieth Something, something more true than death. Thrill, thrill, string: echo and play for me All, all that the poet, the priest cannot say for me; Soar, voice, soar, heavenwards, and pray for me,

Recordings

  • Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "Speak, Music" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).
  • Elgar: Complete Songs for Voice & Piano Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Reinild Mees (piano)
  • The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Catherine Wyn-Rogers (soprano) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999

    • References

    Speak, Music! Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA