The Dream of Gerontius, popularly called just Gerontius, is an oratorio (Opus 38) in two parts composed by Edward Elgar in 1900, to text from the poem by Cardinal Newman. It relates the journey of a pious man's soul from his deathbed to his judgment before God and settling into Purgatory. It is widely regarded as Elgar's finest choral work, and by some to be his magnum opus. The first performance took place on October 3, 1900, in Birmingham Town Hall. An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, vocal soloists and chorus. ... Sir Edward Elgar Sir Edward Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 â€“ 23 February 1934) was an English Romantic composer. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... The Dream of Gerontius is a poem written by John Henry Newman (February 21, 1801 – August 11, 1890) consisting of the prayer of a dying man, and angelic and demonic responses. ... John Henry Newman John Henry Newman (February 21, 1801—August 11, 1890), English cardinal, was born in London, the eldest son of John Newman, banker, of the firm of Ramsbottom, Newman and Co. ... Piety is a desire and willingness to perform religious duties. ... The soul, acording to many religious and philosophical traditions, is a self-aware ethereal substance particular to a unique living being. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Illustration for Dantes Purgatorio (18), by Gustave Doré. Dante described purgatory as having seven terraces, each to purge a different sin. ... Magnum opus (sometimes Opus magnum, plural magna opera), from the Latin meaning great work,[1] refers to the best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer, and most commonly one who has contributed a very large amount of material. ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade 1 listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. ...

Sir John Barbirolli conducting a rehearsal of The Dream of Gerontius in 1964.

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Synopsis

Newman's poem tells the story of a soul's journey through death, and provides a meditation on the unseen world of Roman Catholic theology. Gerontius (a name derived from the Greek word geron, "old man") is a devout Everyman. Elgar's setting uses most of the text of the first part of the poem, which takes place on Earth, but omits many of the more meditative sections of the much longer, otherworldly second part, tightening the narrative flow. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Theology (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογια, logia, words, sayings, or discourse) is reasoned discourse concerning religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances. ...

In the first part, we hear Gerontius as a dying man of faith, by turns fearful and hopeful, but always confident. A group of friends (also called "assistants" in the text) joins him in prayer and meditation. He passes in peace, and a priest, with the assistants, sends him on his way with a valediction. In the second part, Gerontius, now referred to as "The Soul", awakes in a place apparently without space or time, and becomes aware of the presence of his guardian angel, who expresses joy at the culmination of her task (Newman conceived the Angel as male, but Elgar gives the part to a female singer). After a long dialogue, they journey towards the judgment throne. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... . ... Guardian Angel (Schutzengel) (1840), by Matthäus Kern. ... The thrones for The Queen of Canada, and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Canadian Senate, Ottawa is usually occupied by the Governor General and her spouse at the annual State Opening of Parliament. ...

They safely pass a group of demons, and encounter choirs of angels, eternally praising God for His grace and forgiveness. The Angel of the Agony pleads with Jesus to spare the souls of the faithful. Finally Gerontius glimpses God and is judged in a single moment. The Guardian Angel lowers Gerontius into the soothing lake of Purgatory, with a final benediction and promise of a re-awakening to glory. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Daemon (mythology). ... A Gothic angel in ivory, c1250, Louvre An angel is a supernatural being found in many religions. ... In Christianity, divine grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to salvation — irrespective of actions (deeds), earned worth, or proven goodness. ... Forgiveness is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution[[:Template:American Psychological Association. ... The Garden of Gethsemane. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... A benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of church worship service. ... Glory (from the Latin gloria, fame, renown) is used to denote the manifestation of Gods presence in the Judeo-Christian religious tradition. ...

Music

Forces

The oratorio calls for a large orchestra, of typical late Romantic proportions, double chorus with semichorus, and usually three soloists. Gerontius is sung by a tenor, and the Angel is a mezzo-soprano. The Priest's part is written for a baritone, while the Angel of the Agony is more suited to a bass, but as both parts are short they are usually sung by the same performer. However, some performances assign different singers for the two parts. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The era of Romantic music is defined as the period of European classical music that runs roughly from the early 1800s to the first decade of the 20th century, as well as music written according to the norms and styles of that period. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the musical term solo; for other uses, see solo. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... Baritone (French: baryton; Deutsch: Bariton; Italian: baritono) is most commonly the type of male voice that lies between bass and tenor. ... A basso (or bass) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. ...

The choir plays several roles: attendants and friends, demons, Angelicals (women only) and Angels, and souls in Purgatory. They are employed at different times as a single chorus in four parts, or as a double chorus in eight parts or antiphonally. The semichorus is used for music of a lighter texture; usually in performance they are composed of a few members of the main chorus; however, Elgar himself preferred to have the semi-chorus placed near the front of the stage. This article is about the musical term. ...

The required instrumentation includes two flutes (II doubling piccolo), two oboes and English horn, two clarinets in A and bass clarinet, two bassoons and contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani plus three percussion parts, harp, organ, and strings. Elgar called for an additional harp if possible, plus three additional trumpets (and any available percussionists) to reinforce the climax in Part II, just before Gerontius's vision of God.

Form

Each of the two parts is divided into distinct sections but, unlike in most oratorios before the time, the music continues without significant breaks.

Part I:

1. Prelude
2. Jesu, Maria – I am near to death
3. Rouse thee, my fainting soul
4. Sanctus fortis, sanctus Deus
5. Proficiscere, anima Christiana

Part II:

1. I went to sleep
2. It is a member of that family
3. But hark! upon my sense comes a fierce hubbub
4. I see not those false spirits
5. But hark! a grand mysterious harmony
6. Thy judgement now is near
7. I go before my judge
8. Softly and gently, dearly-ransomed soul

Part I

The work begins with an orchestral prelude which presents the most important motifs. In a detailed analysis, Elgar's friend and editor August Jaeger identified and named these themes, in line with their functions in the work. A prelude is a short piece of music, usually in no particular internal form, which may serve as an introduction to succeeding movements of a work that are usually longer and more complex. ... In music, a motif is a perceivable or salient reoccurring fragment or succession of notes that may used to construct the entirety or parts of complete melodies, themes. ... Editing may also refer to audio or film editing. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Gerontius sings a prayer, knowing that life is leaving him and giving voice to his fear, and asks for his friends to pray with him. For much of the soloist's music, Elgar writes in a style that switches smoothly between exactly notated, fully accompanied recitative, and arioso phrases, lightly accompanied. The chorus adds devotional texts in four-part fugal writing. Gerontius's next utterance is a full-blown aria Sanctus fortis, a long credo that eventually returns to expressions of pain and fear. Again, in a mixture of conventional chorus and recitative, the friends intercede for him. Gerontius, at peace, submits, and the priest recites the blessing Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul! (a translation of the litany Ordo Commendationis Animae). This leads to a long chorus for the combined forces, ending Part I. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Recitative, a form of composition often used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas (and occasionally in operettas and even musicals), is melodic speech set to music, or a descriptive narrative song in which the music follows the words. ... Below is a list of terms used in musical terminology which are likely to occur on printed or sheet music. ... In music, a fugue (IPA: ) is a type of contrapuntal composition. ... This article is about the musical term aria. ... A creed is a statement or confession of belief — usually religious belief — or faith. ... A litany, in Christian worship, is a form of prayer used in church services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions. ...

Part II

In a complete change of mood, Part II begins with a simple four-note phrase for the violas which introduces a gentle, rocking theme for the strings. This section is in triple time, as is much of the second part. The Soul's music expresses wonder at its new surroundings, and when the Angel is heard, she expresses quiet exultation at the climax of her task. They converse in an extended duet, again combining recitative with pure sung sections. Increasingly busy music heralds the appearance of the demons: fallen angels who express intense disdain of men, mere mortals by whom they were supplanted. Initially the men of the chorus sing short phrases in close harmony, but as their rage grows more intense the music shifts to a busy fugue, punctuated by shouts of derisive laughter. The viola (in French, alto; in German Bratsche) is a string instrument played with a bow. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... The duet, by Hendrik ter Brugghen A duet is a musical composition or piece for two performers, most often used for a vocal or piano duet. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Daemon (mythology). ... It has been suggested that Evil Angels be merged into this article or section. ... Harmony is the use and study of pitch simultaneity, and therefore chords, actual or implied, in music. ... In music, a fugue (IPA: ) is a type of contrapuntal composition. ...

Gerontius cannot see the demons, and asks if he will soon see his God. In a barely accompanied recitative that recalls the very opening of the work, the Angel warns him that the experience will be almost unbearable, and in veiled terms describes the stigmata of St. Francis. Angels can be heard, offering praises over and over again. The intensity gradually grows, and eventually the full chorus gives voice to a thrilling setting of the section that begins with Praise to the Holiest in the Height. After a brief orchestral passage, the Soul hears echoes from the friends he left behind on earth, still praying for him. He encounters the Angel of the Agony, whose intercession is set as an impassioned aria for bass. The Soul's Angel, knowing the long-awaited moment has come, sings an Alleluia. Francis of Assisi, an early stigmatic. ... Saint Francis of Assisi (1182—October 3, 1226) was a Roman Catholic friar and the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans. ... // Christianity In Christian practice, intercessory prayer is the act of one person praying for or on behalf of another person or situation. ... This article is about the musical term aria. ... A basso (or bass) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. ... Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a transliteration of the Hebrew word הַלְלוּיָהּ meaning [Let us] praise (הַלְלוּ) God (יָהּ) (or Praise (הַלְלוּ) [the] Lord (&#1497...

The Soul now goes before God and, in a huge orchestral outburst, is judged in an instant. At this point in the score, Elgar instructs "for one moment, must every instrument exert its fullest force." This was not originally in Elgar's design, but was inserted at the insistence of Jaeger, and remains as a testament to the positive musical influence of his critical friendship with Elgar. In an anguished aria, the Soul then pleads to be taken away. A chorus of souls sings the first lines of Psalm 90 ("Lord, thou hast been our refuge") and, at last, Gerontius joins them in Purgatory. The final section combines the Angel, chorus, and semichorus in a prolonged song of farewell, and the work ends with overlapping Amens. This rearrangement of the text was devised by Elgar to adhere to the traditional form of the oratorio, which requires the work to end with a final statement by the chorus. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Psalms (from the Greek: Psalmoi (songs sung to a harp, originally from psallein play on a stringed instrument), Ψαλμοί; Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים) is a book of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh or Old Testament. ... Illustration for Dantes Purgatorio (18), by Gustave Doré. Dante described purgatory as having seven terraces, each to purge a different sin. ... Look up Amen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

History

Commission, composition and performance

Like Cardinal Newman, Elgar was a Roman Catholic and was intimately familiar with the poem. He had owned a copy since at least 1885, and in 1889 he was given another copy as a wedding present. This contained handwritten copies of extensive notes that had been made by General Gordon, another distinguished English Catholic, and Elgar is known to have considered the text in musical terms for several years. Throughout the 1890s, Elgar had composed several large-scale works for the regular festivals that were a key part of Britain's musical life. In 1898, based on his growing reputation, he was asked to write a major work for the 1900 Birmingham Triennial Music Festival. He was unable to start work on the commission until the autumn of 1899 though, and after considering a different subject decided to tackle the poem that he now knew so well. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Chinese Gordon as Governor of Sudan Major-General Charles George Gordon, CB (28 January 1833 – 26 January 1885), known as Chinese Gordon, Gordon Pasha, and Gordon of Khartoum, was a British army officer and administrator. ... The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... The Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival is the longest-running classical music festival of its kind. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Composition proceeded quickly. Thanks to his Victorian habit of daily letter-writing, we have detailed insight into Elgar's interactions with Jaeger, his editor at the publisher Novello. The record shows how Jaeger helped in shaping the work, and in particular the crucial depiction of the moment of judgment. But one result of the haste was that the performers and conductor, Hans Richter, did not realize until too late how complex and demanding the work would be. The first performance was, famously, a near disaster, but many of the critics could see past the poor execution. The German chorus master Julius Buths made a translation and arranged a successful performance in Düsseldorf on December 19, 1901, and the work became quickly established in both Britain and Germany. Novello may refer to: Ivor Novello Ivor Novello Award Novello & Co This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... A conductor conducting a band at a ceremony A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... Hans Richter (1843–1916), Austrian conductor (born in what is now Hungary), studied at the Vienna Conservatory (showing a special interest in the horn) and developed his conducting career at several opera-houses in the Austro-Hungarian empire. ... The word critic comes from the Greek κριτικός, kritikós - one who discerns, which itself arises from the Ancient Greek word κριτής, krités, meaning a person who offers reasoned judgement or analysis, value judgement, interpretation, or observation. ... Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and (together with Cologne and the Ruhr Area) the economic center of Western Germany. ... December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Dedication and superscription

Elgar followed the practice of Johann Sebastian Bach in dedicating his work "A.M.D.G." (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, or "To the greater glory of God"). Places in which Bach resided throughout his life Johann Sebastian Bach (pronounced ) (21 March 1685 O.S. – 28 July 1750 N.S.) was a prolific German composer and keyboard virtuoso whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and...

Knowing that he had created a masterpiece, he wrote at the end of the manuscript score this quotation from John Ruskin's Sesame and Lilies: Sheet music is written representation of music. ... Upper: Steel-plate engraving of Ruskin as a young man, made circa 1845, scanned from print made circa 1895. ...

This is the best of me; for the rest, I ate, and drank, and slept, loved and hated, like another: my life was as the vapour and is not; but this I saw and knew; this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.

Although Gerontius was, indeed, his greatest achievement to date, several major works were to come in the following decade.

The conductor Hans Richter signed the autograph copy of the score with the inscription: "Let drop the Chorus, let drop everybody--but let not drop the wings of your original genius." Hans Richter was a Dadaist artist, filmmaker and writer. ...

Legacy

Until 1899, Elgar was generally regarded by the British musical establishment as a talented but essentially provincial composer and conductor. Most composers were academics. Furthermore, Britain was still looked down on by Continental Europe as having little to offer musically. With the Enigma Variations and Gerontius, Elgar showed Europe that it could produce music of great stature, and he showed Britain that it was possible to make a living primarily as a composer, which opened the door for a succession of musicians who were composers first and foremost. Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. ...

The work itself has remained in the repertoire in both Britain and the U.S., during periods when Elgar's style has fallen in and out of favor, and despite its frank adherence to Catholic dogma. It is challenging, but not overwhelmingly so, for amateur choruses, and its pure narrative of faith usually overcomes sectarian objections. The solo parts have made or cemented the reputations of generations of British singers. This is particularly true of the Angel, whose part has passed from Muriel Foster to Clara Butt, Kathleen Ferrier, and Janet Baker. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... MURIEL FOSTER (1877 - 1937) Born in Sunderland, Muriel Foster became a contralto, excelling in oratorio. ... Clara Butt (1872-1936) was an operatic singer. ... Kathleen Ferrier Kathleen Mary Ferrier CBE (22 April 1912 – 8 October 1953) was an English contralto born in Blackburn, and later moved with her family to Higher Walton, Lancashire. ... Janet Baker as Mary Stuart The British mezzo-soprano Janet Baker (born August 21, 1933) is a well-known opera, concert, and lieder singer. ...

Additional notes

As has been noted, Elgar was a Roman Catholic at a time when the Church of England was socially and politically dominant, and the work is Catholic in its dogma. This gave rise to objections in some influential quarters; some clerics expressed the wish that Elgar would modify the text to remove the word "masses" and other Catholic references. Fortunately Elgar was able to resist the suggested bowdlerization. Similarly, Elgar reported that several people had assumed he would use the standard hymn tunes for the sections of the poem that had already been absorbed into Anglican hymn books: Firmly I believe and truly, and Praise to the Holiest in the Height. The idea was presumably that the audience could join in the singing. Again, Elgar had no such intention. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... A Medieval Low Mass by a bishop. ... Bowdlerise is a term inspired by Thomas Bowdler. ... A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a god or other religiously significant figure. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ...

In performance, the semichorus is often composed of a small number of singers embedded in the main chorus. However, Elgar approved of the layout used in the Düsseldorf performance, when the group was placed in front of the orchestra, providing a contrasting tonal quality. Benjamin Britten's recording uses the choir of King's College, Cambridge as semichorus to good effect, with its unique tonal quality of boys and cathedral-trained young men. Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH (November 22, 1913 Lowestoft, Suffolk - December 4, 1976 Aldeburgh, Suffolk) was a British composer, conductor, and pianist. ... Full name The King’s College of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Cambridge Motto Veritas Et Utilitas Truth and usefulness Named after Henry VI Previous names - Established 1441 Sister College(s) New College Provost Prof. ...

Gerontius (ISBN 0-939149-48-6) is the title of a historical novel by James Hamilton-Patterson, which gives an imagined account of a cruise to South America and up the Amazon that Elgar took in 1923, but about which little is known. A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... This article is about the river. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ...

References

• Kennedy, Michael. Portrait of Elgar. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 19 315414 5. 
• Moore, Jerrold Northrop. Edward Elgar : a creative life. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 19 315447 1. 

External links

• The full text of the poem
• A comparative review of the available recordings, as of an unknown date