''Une voix dans le désert'' ''("A Voice in the Desert")'' is a recitation, with a

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

soloist and orchestra, written by the English composer

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 as his Op. 77. The French words are by the Belgian poet Émile Cammaerts. It was first produced, in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre, on 29 January 1916, with the recitation by the Belgian dramatic performer Carlo Liten, the soprano Olga Lynn, and an orchestra conducted by the composer. The words were translated into English by Cammaerts' wife, Tita Brand. The work was published as a piano reduction (the vocal parts with piano accompaniment) by Elkin & Co. in 1916.

Synopsis

The reality of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

was horrific. In August 1914

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

had been invaded by the German army: the big cities had been destroyed, the carnage on both sides was incalculable, and King Albert and his army were driven to the banks of the river

Yser The Yser ( , ; ) is a river that rises in French Flanders (the north of France), enters the Belgian province of West Flanders and flows through the '' Ganzepoot'' and into the North Sea at the town of Nieuwpoort. The source of the Yser is in ...

West Flanders West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...

. '' The Pall Mall Gazette'' in review of ''Une voix dans le désert'' described the scene on stage:

Lyrics

Recordings

*Rarely Heard Elgar & Forgotten War Music, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Bostock conducting, on ClassicO label.
Elgar: War Music
Richard Pascoe (narrator), Teresa Cahill (soprano), Barry Collett (conductor), Rutland Sinfonia * The CD with the book ''Oh, My Horses! Elgar and the Great War''Foreman, Lewis (ed.),''Oh, My Horses! Elgar and the Great War'', Elgar Editions, Rickmansworth, 2001 has many historical recordings including ''Une voix dans le désert'' with '' Quand nos bourgeons se rouvriront'', a 1985 recording with Alvar Lidell (narrator), Valerie Hill (soprano) and the Kensington Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leslie Head * ''Elgar – Bax – For the Fallen'', 2016 (CD HLL7544) recording live 7 April 2016 orchestra and choir The Hallé, cond.

Mark Elder Sir Mark Philip Elder (born 2 June 1947) is a British conductor. Life and career Elder was born in Hexham, Northumberland, the son of a dentist. He played the bassoon when in primary school, at Bryanston School, Dorset, and in the National ...

, recording including "The Spirit of England", Op. 80 (The Hallé, Elder Mark, soprano Rachel Nicholls), "Grania and Diarmid", Op. 42 (mezzo-soprano Shaw Madeleine) and

Arnold Bax Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax (8 November 1883 – 3 October 1953) was an English composer, poet, and author. His prolific output includes songs, choral music, chamber pieces, and solo piano works, but he is best known for his orchestral music ...

In Memoriam (only for orchestra) always 2016

Notes

References

* Kennedy, Michael, ''Portrait of Elgar'' (Oxford University Press, 1968) * Moore, Jerrold N. "Edward Elgar: A Creative Life" (Oxford University Press, 1984)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Voix Dans Le Desert, Une Compositions by Edward Elgar 1915 compositions Compositions with a narrator