The Pipes of Pan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Pipes of Pan" is a poem by Adrian Ross set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar,[1] being completed on 5 June 1899.
The song was published by Boosey in 1900.[2] The first performance was by 'Miss Blouvelt'[3] at the Crystal Palace on 30 April 1900.[2][4] Elgar also arranged the song accompaniment for orchestra,[5] which was first sung by Andrew Black at the Queen's Hall on 12 May 1900.[2]
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.[6]
THE PIPES OF PAN
- When the woods are gay in the time of June
- With the Chestnut flow’r and fan,
- And the birds are still in the hush of noon, -
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- He plays on the reed that once was a maid
- Who broke from his arms and ran,
- And her soul goes out to the list’ning glade -
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- Though you hear, come not near,
- Fearing the wood-god’s ban;
- Soft and sweet, in the dim retreat,
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- When the sun goes down and the stars are out,
- He gathers his goat-foot clan,
- And the Dryads dance with the Satyr rout;
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- For he pipes the dance of the happy Earth
- Ere ever the gods began,
- When the woods were merry and mad with mirth -
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- Come not nigh, pass them by,
- Woe to the eyes that scan !
- Wild and loud to the leaping crowd,
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- When the armies meet on the battle field,
- And the fight is man to man,
- With the gride of sword and the clash of shield -
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- Thro’ the madden’d shriek of the flying rear,
- Thro’ the roar of the charging van,
- There skirls the tune of the God of Fear -
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
- Ours the fray – on and slay,
- Let him escape that can !
- Ringing out in the battle shout,
- Hark to the pipes of Pan !
Recordings
- Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "The Pipes of Pan" performed by Peter Savidge (baritone), with David Owen Norris (piano).
- The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Christopher Maltman (baritone) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999
