Relayed from the People's Palace
WALTER WIDDOP (Tenor)
The NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Leader, S. KNEALE KELLEY
Conducted by THE Composer
ORCHESTRA
Overture, ' Froissart '
THE Overture, named after the great fourteenth-century chronicler, has as motto the words of Keats : —
' When Chivalry
Lifted up her lance on high.'
The theme of chivalry as the basis for a work came into the Composer's mind through the scene in Scott's ' Old Mortality' in which Claverhouse tells of his enthusiasm for Froissart, who ' with true chivalrous feeling ... confines his beautiful expressions of sorrow to the death of the gallant and high-bred Knight; of whom it was a pity to see the fall, such was his loyalty to his king. pure faith to his religion, hardihood towards his enemy, and fidelity to his lady-love.' Introduction and Allegro for Solo String Quartet and String Orchestra. Op. 47
ELGAR, in this work, uses, with beautiful effect, the contrasts between a String Orchestra and a Quartet of Solo Strings-two Violins, Viola and 'Cello.
The Introduction hints at the various tunes with which the whole work is to be built. Towards its close the Welsh (or Welsh-like) time is gently played by the solo Viola. Agitation follows and quickly leads us into the impassioned Allegro.
8.25 WALTER WIDDOP and Orchestra
Scena from ' King Olaf '
8.32 ORCHESTRA
First ' Wand of Youth ' Suite Tone Poem ' Polonia '
AS a boy of twelve, Elgar wrote some music for a children's play. In 1907 he revived this and arranged it in two Suites for full orchestra. The First of these contains: (1) Overture; (2) Serenade ; (3) Minuet ; (4) Sun Dance ; (5) Fairy Pipers; (6) Fairies and Giants.
' DOLONIA ' was written during the first year
* of the war, as a tribute to Poland and with a dedication to Paderewski. It was first played at a concert at the Queen's Hall in aid of the Polish Victims' Relief Fund.
Most of the tunes used are Polish melodies, but an obvious exception is the typically Elgarian tune near the opening-majestic and noble (and marked in the score with Elgar's favourite temn of expression, nobilimente). Thero are also references to Chopin's Nocturne in G Minor and to Paderewski's Polish Fantasia.