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"The Pipes of Pan" is a poem by Adrian Ross set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar, being completed on 5 June 1899.
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The song was published by Boosey in 1900. The first performance was by 'Miss Blouvelt' at the Crystal Palace on 30 April 1900. Elgar also arranged the song accompaniment for orchestra, which was first sung by Andrew Black at the Queen's Hall on 12 May 1900.
Early editions of the vocal score are inscribed 'Sung by Mr. Ivor Foster'; Foster was a popular opera and, particularly, concert singer of the day whose credits included participating in Boosey's series of ballad concerts.
Lyrics
THE PIPES OF PAN
When the woods are gay in the time of JuneAnd the birds are still in the hush of noon, -He plays on the reed that once was a maidAnd her soul goes out to the list’ning glade -Though you hear, come not near,Soft and sweet, in the dim retreat,When the sun goes down and the stars are out,And the Dryads dance with the Satyr rout ;For he pipes the dance of the happy EarthWhen the woods were merry and mad with mirth -Come not nigh, pass them by,Wild and loud to the leaping crowd,When the armies meet on the battle field,With the gride of sword and the clash of shield -Thro’ the madden’d shriek of the flying rear,There skirls the tune of the God of Fear -Ours the fray – on and slay,Ringing out in the battle shout,Recordings
References
The Pipes of Pan Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA