''The Starlight Express'' is a children's

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

by Violet Pearn, based on the imaginative novel ''A Prisoner in Fairyland'' by

Algernon Blackwood Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE (14 March 1869 – 10 December 1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary crit ...

, with songs and incidental music written by the English composer Sir

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

in 1915.

Production

On 9 November 1915, Sir

was invited by

Robin Legge Robin Humphrey Legge (28 June 1862 - 6 April 1933) was an English music writer, the chief music critic of ''The Daily Telegraph'' between 1906 and 1931.The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was f ...

'', to write the music for a children's fantasy play to be produced at the Kingsway Theatre that Christmas. The play was ''The Starlight Express'', an adaptation of a novel by

called ''A Prisoner in Fairyland'', by Blackwood and Violet Pearn. The baritone and composer

Clive Carey Francis Clive Savill Carey CBE (30 May 188330 April 1968), known as Clive Carey, was an English baritone, singing teacher, composer, opera producer and folk song collector. Biography Clive Carey was born at Sible Hedingham, Essex, in 1883. He ...

had already started his own setting, but abandoned it when Elgar was commissioned. The producer was to be

Basil Dean Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 – 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, producer and director in the theatre and in cinema. He founded the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911 and in the First World War, after organising unof ...

: but since he had been called up for army service in France, he was replaced by the actress

Lena Ashwell Lena Margaret Ashwell, Lady Simson ( Pocock; 28 September 1872 – 13 March 1957) was a British actress and theatre manager and producer, known as the first to organise large-scale entertainment for troops at the front, which she did during Wo ...

. Elgar was soon shown the script by Ashwell and had successful meetings with her and with Blackwood. The story appealed to Elgar because of its similarities to the private fantasy world of his own childhood which he had depicted in the music he wrote for "

The Wand of Youth ''The Wand of Youth'' Suites No. 1 and No. 2 are works for full orchestra by the English composer Edward Elgar. The titles given them by Elgar were, in full: ''The Wand of Youth'' (Music to a Child's Play) First Suite, Op. 1a (1869–1907) and ...

"; his first thought was to re-use that music, and he wove many reminiscences of it into the score. He worked on it enthusiastically, and in just over a month had produced over 300 pages of score – songs and incidental music – in time for the rehearsals. On 6 December the two chosen singers, the Australian-born soprano Clytie Hine and baritone Charles Mott, rehearsed with Elgar. ''The Starlight Express'' was produced by Lena Ashwell at the Kingsway Theatre in London, as one of her high-quality wartime entertainments. The production was announced in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' ( ...

'', mentioning that the small orchestra pit of the theatre would be enlarged to accommodate a full orchestra. It opened on 29 December 1915. The premiere was to have been the conducted by the composer, but because Lady Elgar had suffered concussion a few days before as the result of a traffic accident, he stayed at home with her, and the conductor was the young Julius Harrison. It ran for only one month, closing on 29 January 1916. The reasons for the failure were inappropriate design of the characters and scenery by Henry Wilson (who had been chosen and his work approved by Lena Ashwell), and the difficulty Pearn had in making something theatrical with her adaptation of the book. Both Blackwood and Elgar had expressed misgivings about the design, and Blackwood had considered using his right to object and get a new artist. Blackwood objected to "this murder of my simple little Play ... Arts & Crafts pretentious rubbish stitched onto your music by a silly crank who has never read the play". Elgar agreed. This would have meant postponement of the opening. The critics who reported their view of the opening night, while praising the music and particular performers, remarked on the lack of substance to the story. The music did not deserve to be forgotten. Elgar negotiated with The

Gramophone Company The Gramophone Company Limited (The Gramophone Co. Ltd.), based in the United Kingdom and founded by Emil Berliner, was one of the early recording companies, the parent organisation for the '' His Master's Voice (HMV)'' label, and the Europe ...

, and on 18 February 1916, the music was recorded on eight sides, with the songs performed by

Agnes Nicholls Agnes Helen Nicholls (14 July 1876 – 21 September 1959)Announcement in ''Cheltenham Mercury'' Saturday 26 August 1876 'July 14, at 3 Claremont Square, Mrs A.C. Nicholls of a daughter - Agnes Helen.' was one of the greatest English sopranos of ...

and Charles Mott. Later that year the three Organ Grinder's Songs were published by Elkin, with a piano accompaniment arranged by Julius Harrison.

Cast of characters

Cast list: *Daddy ("John Henry Campden", an author) *Mother (his wife "Henrietta") *Jane Anne ("Jinny", their eldest daughter, aged 17) *Monkey (their youngest daughter, aged 12) *Jimbo (their son, aged 10) *Grannie (Irish mother of Henrietta) *Cousin Henry ("Henry Rogers", cousin of Daddy) *Madame Jequier (a Widow, owner of the ''

Pension A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...

Wistaria'') *

Organ-Grinder A street organ (french: orgue de rue or ''orgue de barbarie''; german: Straßenorgel) played by an organ grinder is a French-German automatic mechanical pneumatic organ designed to be mobile enough to play its music in the street. The two most com ...

(may also be the

Tramp A tramp is a long-term homeless person who travels from place to place as a vagrant, traditionally walking all year round. Etymology Tramp is derived from a Middle English verb meaning to "walk with heavy footsteps" (''cf.'' modern English ''t ...

) *Children (' Street Arabs') who accompany the Organ-Grinder before the curtain *Miss Waghorn and three other retired Governesses *The

Pleiades The Pleiades (), also known as The Seven Sisters, Messier 45 and other names by different cultures, is an asterism and an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars in the north-west of the constellation Taurus. At a distance ...

(dancers) * Sprites: Tramp,

Lamplighter A lamplighter is a person employed to light and maintain candle or, later, gas street lights. Very few exist today as most gas street lighting has long been replaced by electric lamps. Function Lights were lit each evening, generally by means ...

Gardener A gardener is someone who practices gardening, either professionally or as a hobby. Description A gardener is any person involved in gardening, arguably the oldest occupation, from the hobbyist in a residential garden, the home-owner suppl ...

Dustman A waste collector, also known as a garbageman, garbage collector, trashman (in the US), binman or (rarely) dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and r ...

, Sweep, Woman-of-the-Haystack, Little Winds and Laugher

Songs

;Act I 1. Organ Grinder (Baritone): "To the Children" – ''"O children, open your arms to me,"'' ;Act II 2. Organ Grinder: "The Blue-Eyes Fairy" – ''"There's a fairy that hides"'' ;Act II Scene 1 3. Organ Grinder: "Curfew Song" (Orion) – ''"The sun has gone"'' 4. Laugher (Soprano): "The Laugher's Song" – ''"I'm ev'rywhere"'' 5. Organ Grinder: "Come Little Winds" – ''"Wake up you little night winds"'' ;Act II Scene 3 6. Laugher: "Tears and Laughter" – ''"Oh! stars shine brightly!"'' 7. Jane Anne (Soprano): "Sunrise Song" (or "Dawn Song") – ''"We shall meet the morning spiders"'' ;Act III 8. Organ Grinder: "My Old Tunes" – ''"My old tunes are rather broken"'' ;Act III Scene 1 9. Jane Anne: – ''"Dandelions, daffodils"'' ;Act III Scene 2 10. Laugher: – ''"Laugh a little ev'ry day"'' 11. Organ Grinder: "The Dawn" – ''"They're all soft-shiny now"'' 12. Jane Anne: – ''"Oh, think Beauty"'' ;Act III Finale 13. Jane Anne & Cousin Henry, duet: "Hearts must be soft-shiny dressed" – ''"Dustman, Laugher, Tramp and busy Sweep"''

Musical quotations

From Elgar's ''

'' Suites * ''The Little Bells (Scherzino)'' – in all Acts * ''Fairy Pipers'' – in all Acts * ''Sun Dance'' – interlude at the end of Act II * ''Moths and Butterflies'' – introduction to Act II Scene 3 * ''March'' – in Act III From Elgar's '' The Music Makers'' * a sequence in Jane Anne's song at the end of Act II Scene 2 From the Christmas Carol ''

The First Nowell "The First Nowell", also known as "The First Noel (or Noël)", is a traditional English Christmas carol with Cornish origins, most likely from the early modern period, although possibly earlier.Albert Ketèlbey Albert William Ketèlbey (; born Ketelbey; 9 August 1875 – 26 November 1959) was an English composer, conductor and pianist, best known for his short pieces of light orchestral music. He was born in Birmingham and moved to Lon ...

, pub. Elkin & Co. Ltd. London & New York, 1916 **To the Children (Organ-Grinder's Song) **Dance of the Pleiades **Sunrise Song **In the Forest **"The Blue-Eyes Fairy" (Organ-Grinder's Song) **Finale *Organ Grinder's Songs, piano accompaniment arranged by Julius Harrison, pub. Elkin & Co. Ltd. London & New York, 1916 **1. "To the Children" **2. "The Blue-Eyes Fairy" **3. "My Old Tunes"

Synopsis

Act I

After a short musical overture, the Organ grinder appears in front of the curtain and sings "To the Children". The Song (first at the words ''"eyes; Let me sleep a moment"'') includes self-quotations of "The Little Bells" music from "

". ;Song 1. The Organ Grinder: "To the Children" ''O children, open your arms to me,'' ''Let your hair fall over my eyes;'' ''Let me sleep a moment – and then awake'' ''In your garden of sweet surprise !'' ''For the grown up folk are a wearisome folk,'' ''And they laugh all my fancies to scorn,'' ''The grown up folk are a wearisome folk,'' ''And they laugh all my fancies to scorn,'' ''They laugh all my fancies to scorn.'' ''O children, open your hearts to me,'' ''And tell me your wonder thoughts,'' ''Who lives in the palace inside your brain?'' ''Who plays in its outer courts?'' ''Who hides in the hours To-morrow holds?'' ''Who sleeps in your Yesterdays?'' ''Who tip-toes along past the curtained folds'' ''Of the shadow that Twilight lays?'' ''O children, open your eyes to me,'' ''And tell me your visions too.'' ''Who squeezes the sponge when the salt tears flow'' ''To dim their magical blue?'' ''Who brushes the fringe of their lace-veined lids?'' ''Who trims their innocent light?'' ''Who draws up the blinds when the sun peeps in?'' ''Who fastens them down at night?'' ''O children, I pray you speak low to me,'' ''And cover my eyes with your hands.'' ''O kiss me again till I sleep and dream'' ''That I'm lost in your fairy-lands;'' ''That I'm lost in your fairy-lands;'' ''For the grown-up folk are a troublesome folk,'' ''And the book of their childhood is torn!'' ''Is blotted, and crumpled, and torn!'' The music continues through the curtain rise on the first scene

Scene 1

The curtain rises on a family living in a ''

pension A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...

'' in the mountains of Switzerland, showing grown-ups with problems which are first expressed unaccompanied by music: there is Daddy (an unsuccessful author), Mother (with domestic problems), the ''pension'' manager Widow Jequier with residents that do not pay, old Miss Waghorn always searching for her long-lost brother, and Cousin Henry. The children identify with star constellations: Jane Anne the

, Jimbo the

Pole Star A pole star or polar star is a star, preferably bright, nearly aligned with the axis of a rotating astronomical body. Currently, Earth's pole stars are Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris), a bright magnitude-2 star aligned approximately with its ...

, and Monkey with the

Great Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

and Little Bear. Cousin Henry is Orion. The children are concerned that the adults who have become 'wumbled' (worried/muddled) need 'sympathy' in the form of star-dust. There is incidental music but there are no songs in this act, which has only one scene.

Act II

Before the curtain opens, there is a short musical prelude, and the Organ Grinder sings the waltz-song "The Blue-Eyes Fairy". ;Song 2. The Organ Grinder: "The Blue-Eyes Fairy" ''There's a fairy that hides in the beautiful eyes'' ''Of the children who treat her well;'' ''In the little round hole where the eyeball lies'' ''She weaves her magical Spell.'' ''She is awfully tiny and shy to the sight,'' ''But her magic's past believing,'' ''For she fills you with light and with laughter,'' ''It's the spell of her own sweet weaving.'' ''But! the eyes must be blue,'' ''And the heart must be true,'' ''And the child must be better than gold!'' ''And then if you'll let her,'' ''The quicker the better'' ''She'll make you forget that you're old.'' ''So, if such a child you should chance to see,'' ''Or with such a child to play,'' ''No matter how tired or dull you be,'' ''Nor how many tons you weigh'' ''You will suddenly find that you're young again,'' ''And your movements light and airy'' ''And you'll try to be solemn and stiff in vain-'' ''It's the spell of the Blue-Eyes Fairy.'' The scene is concluded by an Entr’acte "In the Forest".

Scene 1

;Scene 1 – Part 1 The curtain rises during the Entr’acte music. Cousin Henry, Monkey and Jimbo are outside the Star-Cave at the edge of a pine-forest. The cave is too narrow for them to enter. They fall asleep. The Sprites appear and Night falls. The Organ-Grinder sings the Curfew Song. The Sprites hide. ;Song 3. The Organ Grinder: "The Curfew Song" ''The sun has gone;'' ''The tide of stars is setting all our way,'' ''The Pleiades call softly to Orion,'' ''As nightly they have called these million years;'' ''The children lie asleep; now let them out,'' ''And, over-hearing,'' ''We waft the fairy call into your dreams,'' ''That you may swim upon that tide of gold'' ''And list'ning in your hearts,'' ''Just over-hear'' ''That deep tremendous thunder'' ''Signalling reply:'' ''All's well!'' ''Orion answering the Pleiades!'' There is the Dance of the Pleiades as the curtain falls. ;Scene 1 – Part 2 The curtain rises. It is now night-time and the children are awake. The introduction includes a violin and harp duet, and the "Little Bells" music from "The Wand of Youth". The Sprites descend from the Starlight Express: they are the Organ Grinder, the Sweep who sweeps worries away, the Dustman with the stardust of sympathy, the Lamplighter who lights up hope (and the stars), the Head Gardener who makes things grow, the Tramp with instinctive simplicity, and the 'Laugher' who sings troubles into joy. The Woman-of-the-Haystack is the mother of them all, borne on the winds. ;Song 4. The Laugher: "I'm everywhere" ''(laughs)'' ''I'm everywhere,'' ''The universal solvent of despair,'' ''(laughs)'' ''Ah! that sings away the half'' ''Of ev'ry care because I laugh!'' ''I laugh'' ;Song 5. The Organ Grinder: "Come Little Winds" ''Wake up, you little Night Winds :'' ''Blow your best !'' ''We want you all -'' ''Ha-ha! that's East and West,'' ''The North Wind too,'' ''She always blows the strongest:'' ''You all must draw your deepest breath and longest,'' ''With open mouth!'' ''Now go and blow the Haystack out of bed!'' ''Whistle her dreams of straw across the sky'' ''And whirl her canvas skirts about her head -'' ''You can but try!'' ''Go, sweep her to'ards the Cave, and break her trance:'' ''Thick Mother of the Sprites -'' ''She must get in:'' ''Even a Haystack's elephantine dance'' ''Is somewhere thin!'' ''Is somewhere thin!'' ;Interlude The "Sun Dance" and "Moths and Butterflies" music from the " Wand of Youth"

Scene 2

;Prelude The prelude includes a quotation from the "Fairy Pipers" of "The Wand of Youth". The Sprites enter the cave and scatter stardust on the sleeping villagers. The Dustman scatters the finest dust on the ancient Miss Waghorn, who rests from the search for her brother. The Lamplighter exits to tend "''the fires that are going out round the world.''"

Scene 3

The Introduction while the curtain rises includes "Moths and Butterflies" from "The Wand of Youth". ;Song 6. The Laugher: "Tears and Laughter" ''Oh! stars shine brightly!'' ''He's sleeping tightly !'' ''His pattern's pouring through!'' ''Oh! Sprites come swiftly!'' ''Unwumble deftly!'' ''The world has need of you!'' ''They'll listen to my song'' ''And understand'' ''That, exiled over long,'' ''From Fairyland,'' ''The weary world has rather lost its way!'' ''Rather lost its way!'' ''My secret's double,'' ''For tears of trouble'' ''Are really tears of laughter gone astray.'' ;Song 7. Soprano (Jane Anne's song): "Dawn Song" ''We shall meet the morning spiders,'' ''The fairy cotton riders,'' ''Each mounted, each mounted on a star's reflected ray.'' ''With their tiny nets of feather.'' ''They collect our thoughts together,'' ''And on strips of windy weather bring the Day,'' ''And on strips of windy weather bring the Day!'' The curtain falls at the end of the scene.

Act III

After a short prelude which includes part of the "March" from "The Wand of Youth", The Organ Grinder sings "My Old Tunes". ;Song 8. The Organ Grinder: "My Old Tunes" ''My old tunes are rather broken'' ''And they come from far away,'' ''Bring just a little token'' ''Of a long-forgotten day;'' ''When the children came to listen,'' ''T'other side the garden fence,'' ''And my heart leapt out of prison'' ''At the gift – of seven pence!'' ''Just beyond the Haystack's shadow,'' ''Long ago, that leafy June,'' ''How they danced about the meadow'' ''At the rising of the moon!'' ''While from out a railway carriage,'' ''Standing ready and alight,'' ''Stepped their guests as to a marriage -'' ''Asked to dine – and stay the night!'' ''Sweep and Laugher danced together,'' ''And a man who had a lamp'' ''Capered lightly as a feather'' ''With a lazy-looking Tramp;'' ''When a Voice disturbed the Lancers:'' ''"Children, come, it's time for bed"'' ''Railway carriage, Sprites and Dancers'' ''Flew up to the stars instead!'' ''Now I am a Constellation,'' ''Free from ev'ry earthly care,'' ''Playing nightly at my station'' ''For the Big and Little Bear.'' ''But my tunes are still entrancing'' ''As that night in leafy June,'' ''When I caught the children dancing'' ''With the Sprites beneath the moon!'' ''Still the children come to hear me'' ''In the lane or dingy street;'' ''Still the heavy pavement near me'' ''Flutters to their happy feet;'' ''For my tunes are ne'er forgotten,'' ''And they bring the scent of musk:'' ''Grown-up folk may call 'em rotten,'' ''But I'm looked for when it's dusk!''

Scene 1

The curtain rises on Jane Anne. ;Song 9. Jane Anne: "Dandelions, daffodils" ''Dandelions, daffodils,'' ''Sheets of yaller roses,'' ''Goldenrods and Marigolds,'' ''Buttercups for posies!'' The curtain closes for the Entr’acte which is the "Blue-Eyes Fairy" Waltz, and this is followed by the "Dance of the Pleiades".

Scene 2

The final scene is the Pine forest by night, before the Star Cave. Madame Jequier rejoices because Cousin Henry has secretly paid all the debts of her ''pension''. Daddy enters, speaking through the "Starlight" music: ;Song 10. The Laugher: "Laugh a little ev'ry day" ''Laugh a little ev'ry day'' ''At yourself, that is to say.'' ''Plan it, seed it.'' ''Millions want it.'' ''Hark! Their dreams'' ''Have split the seams.'' ;Song 11. Organ Grinder: "The Dawn" ''They're all soft-shiny now'' ''The time draws near;'' ''Their hearts are dusted'' ''And the path's swept clear!'' ''The tide of stars is setting all one way,'' ''Bring on the dawn – yet not the dawn of day!'' Incidental music, including the "Dance of the Pleides" and "Fairy Pipers" from "The Wand of Youth". ;Song 12. Jane Anne: "Oh, think Beauty" ''Oh, think Beauty,'' ''It's your duty.'' ''Ev'ry loving gentle thought'' ''Of this fairy brilliance wrought.'' ''While the busy Pleiades,'' ''Sisters to the Hyades,'' ''Seven by seven,'' ''Across the Heaven.''

Finale

The stone is rolled away from the Star-cave. The scene is brightened by the entrance of the Sprites, and the humans enter. The ghost of Miss Waghorn enters 'clothed in light'. ;Song 13. Jane Anne and Cousin Henry (Organ Grinder): Jane Anne (Laugher): ''Dustman, Laugher, Tramp and busy Sweep,'' ''Head Gardener too,'' ''The world now waking from her heavy sleep'' ''Has need of You!'' ''Gypsy, Lampman, come! take of our best,'' ''Our sweetest dust'' ''And sow earth's little gardens of unrest'' ''With joy and trust -'' ''For ev'ry hour'' ''A golden flower,'' ''For ev'ry hour'' ''A golden flower,'' ''Love, Laughter, Courage, Hope, and all the'' ;Duet: Jane Anne and Cousin Henry (Organ Grinder): JA ( ''rest – - – - – -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'') CH( ''Hearts must be soft-shiny dressed'' ) ( ''. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'') ( ''With your softest, sweetest'' ) ( ''With your softest, sweetest best.'' ) ( ''best – - – . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '') ( ''Dust, that comes from very'' ) ( ''. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '') ( ''far. Ah! – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -'') ( ''Daddy's pattern, heart and brain'' ) ( ''- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -'') ( ''Sprinkle with the golden, golden'' ) ( ''Hearts must be soft-shiny dressed'' . .) ( ''rain, with your softest, sweetest best'' ) ( ''With your softest, sweetest golden dust! '') ( ''- – dust, With your softest, sweetest, . . . '') ( ''For the rising of the star.'') ( ''For the rising of the star.'') The Star of Bethlehem rises while the melody of the

Christmas carol A Christmas carol is a carol (a song or hymn) on the theme of Christmas, traditionally sung at Christmas itself or during the surrounding Christmas holiday season. The term noel has sometimes been used, especially for carols of French or ...

Contemporary review

Review from the weekly magazine "

Punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pu ...

", 5 January 1916. The reviewer, the drama critic Joseph Thorp, used to sign himself "T". Curiously, Clytie Hine, 'The Laugher', gets no mention. ''The Musical Times'' thought well of her. The Starlight Express Daddy ..............

O. B. Clarence Oliver Burchett Clarence (25 March 1870, Hampstead, London – 2 October 1955, Hove, Sussex) was an English actor. Following his education at Dover College and University College Hospital, he made his stage debut in 1890. His experience include ...

Mother .............

Ruth Maitland Ruth Maitland (born Emma Christian Ruth Erskine; 3 February 1880 – 12 March 1961) was an English actress. She is known for her roles in '' The Faithful Heart'' (1922), ''The Farmer's Wife'' (1928), ''The Only Girl'' (1933), and '' At the Villa ...

Grannie ............ Una O'Connor Jimbo ............... Ronald Hammond Monkey ............ Elsie Hall Jane Anne ........ Mercia Cameron Cousin Henry .... Owen Roughwood Mme Jequier ..... Juliette Mylo Miss Waghorn ... Mary Barton Tramp ............... Charles Mott

Legacy

*''The Starlight Express'' was not the only collaboration of Blackwood and Pearn. Note :''Karma: A Re-Incarnation Play in Prologue, Epilogue & Three Acts''. London: Macmillan, 1918 and New York: E.P. Dutton, 1918. "A love story re-enacted through four existences." :''Through The Crack'' (an adaptation of ''The Education of Uncle Paul'' by Blackwood). London and New York: Samuel French. Produced at Christmas 1920, then in 1925. *On 22 May 1918, Lance Corporal Charles James Mott, the successful singer in that first production of ''The Starlight Express'' was in the London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) when he was mortally wounded by a German shell-burst. He was 37. Elgar, writing to a friend, said ''"It is difficult to believe that Charles Mott is dead; dead of wounds in France. I am overwhelmed: a simple, honest GOOD soul."'' *In 1933 the conductor Joseph Lewis constructed from the score a 40-minute selection from ''The Starlight Express'' which he conducted in several BBC radio broadcasts. But his score and other valuable BBC material was destroyed in an air-raid in 1940. *In September 1940 the Kingsway Theatre was damaged by fire in an air raid. All ''The Starlight Express'' stage props and music (conductor's score and orchestra parts) was destroyed. However, Elgar had left his manuscript full score of the music with the publishers, Messrs Elkin & Co., and apart from memories and reviews, this became the only surviving remnant. Fortunately this score also contained many of his own written notes on the performance. The score is signed ''"Edward Elgar, Finis, A.E. December 1915"'' – A. E. was his wife's initials, and Elgar, typically doubled the pun with the inscription ''"AE 15"'' (abbreviated Latin ''"AETATIS 15"'', English ''"Age 15"''): he was a child again! *In 1984 Richard Adams provided a 'performing narrative' to accompany a performance of Elgar's score in the Netherlands. The narrator for the occasion was composer Michael Berkeley.

Recordings

*On 18–19 February 1916, a selection of the songs and music were given an acoustic recording at the HMV Studios, Hayes, by The

. The singers were Charles Mott and

, and Elgar conducted the "Symphony Orchestra". There were four 12-inch records (D455-8): (1) ''To the Children'' and ''The Blue-Eyes Fairy'' (Mott); (2) ''My Old Tunes'' and ''Curfew Song'' (Mott); (3) ''Come Little Winds'' (Mott), ''Wind Dance'' (orchestra), ''Tears and Laughter'' and ''Sunrise Song'' (Nicholls); (4) ''The Laugher's Song'' (Nicholls) and Finale – ''Hearts must be soft-shiny dressed'' (Nicholls and Mott). *In December 1935, four of the songs were recorded at the HMV Studios, Hayes, by The Gramophone Company. The singers were Stuart Robertson and his wife Alice Moxon. It is not known who conducted the orchestra. The songs were ''To the Children'', ''The Laugher's Song'', ''The Blue-Eyes Fairy'' and ''My Old Tunes''. *On 26 September 1946, two of the Organ Grinder's songs (''My old tunes'' and ''To the Children'') were recorded at

Decca Studios Decca Studios was a recording facility at 165 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, North London, England, controlled by Decca Records from 1937 to 1980. The building was once West Hampstead Town Hall, and had been converted to a recording studio b ...

in London. The singer was Henry Cummings, with an orchestra conducted by

Charles Groves Sir Charles Barnard Groves CBE (10 March 191520 June 1992) was an English conductor. He was known for the breadth of his repertoire and for encouraging contemporary composers and young conductors. After accompanying positions and conducting ...

(in his first recording session). *In 1964 EMI/ HMV released ''The Miniature Elgar'' inspired by the BBC-TV Monitor film. It included the songs ''My old Tunes'' and ''To the Children'', performed by Frederick Harvey with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Lawrance Collingwood. *In 1973,

Chandos Records Chandos Records is a British independent classical music recording company based in Colchester. It was founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.Bournemouth Sinfonietta The Bournemouth Sinfonietta was a chamber orchestra founded in 1968 as an offshoot of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It was disbanded in November 1999 after increasing difficulties in obtaining funding from local councils led to the decision ...

conducted by George Hurst. The songs were ''To the Children'', ''The Blue-Eyes Fairy'', ''The Laugher's Song'', ''Tears and Laughter'', ''The Dawn Song'', ''My Old Tunes'', ''Jane Anne's song'' and ''Finale''. *In 1974–1975, a complete recording was made by EMI/ HMV on 28/29 November 1974, 20/22 December 1974 and 22 October 1975. This was at

Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music ...

, London. The singers were

Derek Hammond-Stroud Derek Hammond-Stroud (10 January 192614 May 2012) was an English baritone opera singer best known for his performances of German lieder and his international performances in opera, particularly the roles of Alberich in Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nib ...

and

Valerie Masterson Margaret Valerie Masterson (born 3 June 1937), is a retired English opera singer, a lecturer and Vice-President of British Youth Opera. After study in Italy, she began to sing opera in Europe. Returning to England, Masterson performed as prin ...

, with the

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symp ...

conducted by

Vernon Handley Vernon George "Tod" Handley (11 November 1930 – 10 September 2008) was a British conductor (music), conductor, known in particular for his support of British composers. He was born of a Welsh people, Welsh father and an Irish people, Irish mo ...

. *In December 1990 some of the songs were recorded by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American Decca's president. ...

at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. The singers were

Bryn Terfel Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, (; born 9 November 1965) (known professionally as Bryn Terfel) is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly '' Figaro'', '' Leporello'' and '' ...

and Alison Hagley, with the

Welsh National Opera Welsh National Opera (WNO) ( cy, Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru) is an opera company based in Cardiff, Wales; it gave its first performances in 1946. It began as a mainly amateur body and transformed into an all-professional ensemble by 1973. In its ...

Chorus and Welsh National Opera Orchestra conducted by Sir

Charles Mackerras Mackerras in 2005 Sir Alan Charles MacLaurin Mackerras (; 1925 2010) was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. He was long associated with the Engli ...

. The songs were ''To the Children'', ''The Blue-Eyes Fairy'', ''The Laugher's Song'', ''Come Little Winds'', ''Tears and Laughter'', ''The Dawn Song'', ''My Old Tunes'', ''Jane Anne's song'' and ''Finale''. *A 1992 Koss Classics release of lesser-known works by Elgar, performed by the

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is an American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The largest performing arts organization in Indiana, the orchestra is based at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis on Monument Ci ...

under the direction of

Raymond Leppard Raymond John Leppard (11 August 1927 – 22 October 2019) was a British-American conductor, harpsichordist, composer and editor. In the 1960s, he played a prime role in the rebirth of interest in Baroque music; in particular, he was one of the ...

, included the orchestral Overture and Finale. *In 1997, the 1990 Decca recording of 'The Starlight Express' was remastered.Elgar/Lambert: Vocal Works
original recording remastered
The Starlight Express
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by

, with

(soprano) and

(baritone)
The Starlight Express Suite
Cynthia Glover (Soprano), John Lawrenson (Baritone), Bournemouth Sinfonietta conducted by George Hurst. Tracks: ''To the Children'', ''The Blue-Eyes Fairy'', ''The Laugher's Song'', ''O stars shine brightly'', ''The Dawn Song'', ''My Old Tunes'', ''Jane Anne's song'' and ''Finale''. Chandos CHAN6582

References

*Foreman, Lewis (ed.), ''"Oh My Horses! Elgar and the Great War" – Chapter 9 by Andrew Neill'' (Elgar Editions, Rickmansworth, 2001) *Keeton, A. E., ''Elgar's Music for 'The Starlight Express'', Oxford Journals (Oxford University Press, 1945); XXVI: 43–46 Music and Letters 1945 XXVI(1):43–46; 1945 by Oxford University Press *Kennedy, Michael ''Portrait of Elgar'' (Oxford University Press, 1968) *Moore, Jerrold N. ''Edward Elgar: a creative life'' (Oxford University Press, 1984) Pages 687–695 * Pages 169–174

External links

Notes

External links

The Starlight Express, Op. 78 by Sir Edward Elgar
Song texts and recordings

Elgar on Radio 3: The Starlight Express

Mott and The Starlight Express {{DEFAULTSORT:Starlight Express, The 1915 plays Plays set in Switzerland Plays about fairies and sprites Compositions by Edward Elgar Suites by Edward Elgar Incidental music Children's theatre 1916 compositions