Caractacus - Elgar, Edward

"Op. Op.35. Composed: 1897-98. Movements: 6 scenes, 27 numbers *Scene I. :CHORUS - " Watchmen, alert ! " :SOLO (''Caractacus'') - " Watchmen,alert ! the King is here " :RECIT. (''Eigen, Orbin, and Caractacus'') - " Father, Sire, and King " :SOLO (''Eigen'') - " At eve to the greenwood " :TRIO (''Eigen, Orbin, and Caractacus'') - " On the ocean and the river " :CHORUS - " Rest, weary monarch " *Scene II. :SOLO (''Arch-Druid'') and CHORUS - " Tread the mystic circle round " :CHORUS, (''INVOCATION'') - " Lord of dread " :RECIT. {''Arch-Druid, Orbin, and Caractacus'') - " Bard, what read ye ? " :SOLO (''Caractacus'') and CHORUS (''Soldiers'') - " Leap to the light " :CHORUS - " Hence - ere the Druid's wrath is woke " *Scene III. :INTRODUCTION (''Orchestra'') :CHORUS - " Come ! beneath our woodland bowers " :SOLO (''Eigen'') - " O'er-arch'd by leaves " :SOLO (''Orbin'') - " Last night beneath the sacred Oak " :DUET (''Eigen and Orbin'') and CHORUS - " They gather the wreaths " *Scene IV. :CHORUS (''Maidens'') - " Wild rumours shake our calm retreat " :SOLO (''Eigen'') - " When the glow of the evening " :CHORUS (''Soldiers'') - " We are gather'd by the river " :SOLO (''Caractacus'') and CHORUS, (''LAMENT'') - " O my warriors " *Scene V. :SOLO (''A Bard'') and CHORUS - " Captive Britons, see them " *Scene VI. :PROCESSIONAL MUSIC: TRIUMPHAL MARCH (''Orchestra and Chorus'') - " The march triumphal thunders " :RECIT. (''Claudius'') - " Unbind his hands " :SOLO (''Caractacus'') - " Heap torment upon torment " :RECIT. (''Claudius'') and CHORUS - " Slay, slay the Briton " :SOLO (''Caractacus'') - " I plead not for myself " :QUARTET (''Eigen, Orbin, Caractacus, and Claudius'') - " Grace from the Roman " :CHORUS - " The clang of arms is over "; " Britons, alert ! ". Dedicated to: Queen Victoria"

⌛ Period → Romantic ◈ Genre → Romantic ♬ Voicing → SATB

◆ Difficulty

Expert (Grade 7-8)

¶ Language → English

Parts 4

Instruments soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra

Posted 2009-04-04