Chanson de Matin

Chanson de Matin (Morning Song), Op. 15, No. 2, is a musical work composed by Edward Elgar for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1899,^[2] though it is thought that it was almost certainly written in 1889 or 1890.

Elgar also composed a "companion" piece, Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1. To some critics Chanson de Matin is the less profound of the two works, however, its fresh melodic appeal has made it more popular.

The orchestral version of the work was published two years later, and first performed, together with Chanson de Nuit, at a Queen's Hall Promenade Concert conducted by Henry Wood on 14 September 1901.^[3]

Elgar briefly quotes the melody in the second movement of his String Quartet in E minor of 1918.

Structure

Allegretto, 2/4, G major

$\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } { \key g \major \time 2/4 g''4--_\markup { \dynamic p \italic dolce } g-- g8( fis) e( fis16 g) d8( c) a4~ a2 b'4--_\markup { \italic { poco cresc. } } b-- b8( a) g( a16 b) g8( fis) d4~\> << d2 { s4. s8\! } >> }$

Elgar being a violinist himself, the main melody of the piece is scored for the aforesaid instrument.

Following a short two-bar introduction on the piano the violin soars high with a G and sings the first part of the song. Following this the piano takes the baton for a short passage before handing it back to the violinist. This pattern happens once again. As the ending comes, the violin sings an accentuated G, then B as the piano slowly brings it to a close. It means 'morning song'

Instrumentation

Elgar scored Chanson de Matin (and Chanson de Nuit) for a small orchestra consisting of one flute, one oboe, two clarinets, one bassoon, two horns, the string section, and a harp.

Arrangements

The work is most well known in its original setting and the composer's orchestral version.

The most important are his arrangements for cello and piano, and for viola and piano; and by his friend A. Herbert Brewer for organ.

There are arrangements for other instruments, including oboe and piano, recorder ensemble (Dom Gregory Murray),^[4] brass quintet (Roger Harvey),^[5] and for brass band and wind band.

There is an adaptation for voice and piano published in 1960, "Haste ye feathered songsters", to words by Laurence Swinyard.^[6]

Notes

^ "Prom 19". BBC. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
^ Kennedy, Portrait of Elgar, p. 344
^ Young, Elgar, O.M., p. 405
^ "Dom Gregory Murray, OSB, MA, FRCP, organist and composer (1905-1992)". Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
^ Roger Harvey, trombonist in the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
^ Laurence Swinyard (1901-1986) was an organist, lyricist (including translations of French, German and Italian lyrics), music editor and writer. He was organist at West Norwood Congregational Church in South London, author of articles on the organ and organ music, and he wrote the Analytical Notes on Elgar's Enigma Variations published by Novello's in 1961.

References

Kennedy, Michael (1987). Portrait of Elgar (Third ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-284017-7.
Young, Percy M. (1973). Elgar O.M.: a study of a musician. London: Collins. OCLC 869820.
Score, Elgar: Chanson de Matin, Novello & Co., London, 1897, 1899.