A Romantic Legend by Sir Frederic Cowen.
Cardiff Repertory Chorus
The Station Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Warwick Braithwaite
Prologue. A Forest Near Caerleon
1. Introduction. Rustic Chorus, Recit, and Air (Sir Galahad), 'Man for Maid and Maid for Man'
2. Chorus (Female Voices) and Recit. (Sir Galahad), 'From Rugged Shores'
3. Scena (Ina and Sir Galahad) and Chorus, 'Methought I Saw'.
Scene 1. Morning on the Cornish Coast
4. Scena (Merlin) and Male Chorus. 'Now Fair has Come the Morning'
5. Scena (Merlm and Norna) and Male Chorus, 'Oh! Well the Work was Done'
Scene 2. On A Scilly Islet.
6. Scena (Ina) and Female Chorus, 'Alone Upon this Barren Rock'
Scene 3. On the Cornish Coast
7. Scena (Norna and Merlin), 'In Glowing Radiance'
Scene 4. At Caerleon
8. Chorus and Recit. (Merlin). 'Lance to Lance'
9. Choral Recit. and Solo (Sir Galahad), 'See, of the Glittering Train'
10. Final Duet (Ina and Sir Galahad) and Chorus, 'O Wonderful! She lives'

This Cantata, first heard at the Norwich Festival of 1893, is founded on the story told by Wordsworth, in 'The Egyptian Maid, or The Water Lily'. In its full form (it may, on this occasion, be somewhat shortened) Cowen's 'Romantic Legend': consists of a Prologue ('A Forest near Caerleon'). and four Scenes, entitled respectively 'Morning on the Cornish Coast', 'On a Scilly Islet', 'On the Cornish Coast', and 'At Caerleon' (Lists are prepared for a Tournament).
In the Prologue, after an Orchestral Introduction, Sir Galahad (Tenor), wandering, in the forest near King Arthur's Court, is greeted by a rustic band of men and maids, who sing of the joyous coming together of lovers. This reminds him of a dream in which he saw a lovely face in the heart of a water-lily. 'Come from glade, or bower, or stream, Lovely lady of my dream!' he begs, and in answer airy spirits appear, sent by the goddess Norna (Contralto) to bring him a vision of her whom he would fain see again.
He falls asleep, and in a dream sees a ship, whereon is seated an Egyptian Princess, Ina (Soprano), She sings that she is journeying to where her lover waits for her - 'at Britain's Court'. Sir Galahad awakes.
Scene 1. The magician Merlin (Bass), seeing Ina's ship approaching, causes a storm to break upon it.- It sinks, and Merlin is beginning to lament his rashness, when Norna appears, and tells him how grave is his act. since Ina is awaited at the Court of King Arthur. Norna summons a magic boat, and sets forth to seek Ina.
Scene 2. Ina has been cast up, alone, on one of the Scilly islands. She laments her fate. Noma arrives and rescues her.
Scene 3. On the coast of Cornwall Merlin awaits them, with a swift car drawn by swans, which transports Ina to Caerleon.
Scene 4. At Arthur's Court, a tournament is about to begin. The arrival of Merlin's car creates great excitement. Ina is presumed to be dead, and flowers are strewn upon the car. Merlin suggests that the King's knights shall try by touch to revive her. 'For so may pass to her the kindred life of him, her destined lord'. Many knights do so without success, but at Galahad's touch she revives, and joins her lover in a joyous duet.