The john henry newman poem exploring gerontius heartfelt loss and hope in the face of death and his judgement before god is set to elgars sublimely dramatic music, creating a deeply moving, passionate and inspiring experience. The massive piece for chorus and orchestra is based on a victorian poem by cardinal john henry newman. It has been described as a metrical meditation on death. Nor knee deep in the salt marsh, heaving a cutlass, 5. Central theme john henry newman employs the language of the churchs liturgy as when, early in gerontius, the priest prays over the dying gerontius. The dream of gerontius was composed in great grief after the death of a dear friend. Nevertheless, he wrote a very great poem, the dream of gerontiusa poem which the intellectual world admires more and more every year, and which yields its best only after careful study and consideration. A careful study of the dream of gerontius will show how musical it is, and how delicately the music of the verse changes with the themes. The dream of gerontius the dream of gerontius was composed in response to a commission from the birmingham festival and premiered there in 1900. Gerontius just means an old man, and in the poem, he represents all of us hes an everyman. The poem was first performed in 1900 by the english composer, edward elgar. Today, elgars the dream of gerontius is a national monument. But at its first performance in birmingham, 105 years ago, the music was. In effect, this poem is a sort of compendium of his insights into the teaching of the catholic faith on life after death.
But at its first performance in birmingham, 105 years ago, the music was thought daring, even difficult, while the subject matter. Edward elgars the dream of gerontius digital concert hall. The dream of gerontius, first published in 1865, is cardinal newmans epic poem describing the descent of gerontius, an everyman character, into death and purgatory. The original vocal score of gerontius was actually printed before elgars had even finalised or completed his final. The dream of gerontius christian classics ethereal. Jesu, maria i am near to death, and thou art calling me. A central part deals with the anticipation of the souls personal appearance before christ and later that actual judgment. Hutton as unequalled for grandeur of outline, purity of taste and radiance of total effect.
This magnificent poem follows gerontius from his earthly end to his introduction before the heavenly host. As the bbc once said in the introduction to a concert, edward elgars oratorio the dream of gerontius is seen in great britain as a national monument. Jesu, mariai am near to death, and thou art calling me. The dream of gerontius this book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. However, in the intervening decades, up to the time of the publication of the dream of gerontius in 1865, newmans poetic theory must have matured because in this poem we find evidence of a less didactic conception of the nature and function of poetry. The dream of gerontius by cardinal newman newman friends. The dream of gerontius is an 1865 poem written by st john henry newman consisting of the. Edward elgars the dream of gerontius is a splendid oratorio for mezzosoprano, tenor and bass with chorus and orchestra. Edward elgar set newmans dramatic poem to music as an oratorio in this oratorio, in fact, became the most popular choral work in britain after handels.
We do so by comparing the dream of gerontius with another. The theological themes in newmans dream of gerontius. I t is hard to explain why the dream of gerontius manages to have such a powerful effect on someone who rejects every particle of the religious impulses that nourish it. The dream of gerontius 1900 is one of the finest choral edifices in the english language, with complex orchestral writing on a symphonic scale. Newmans description of the souls final judgment is perhaps the most novel part of the poem. Jul 26, 2019 project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman. The first part of the poem, in fact, contains a lengthy and novel. The dream of gerontius was published in 1865, designed in part to present a clear case for catholic beliefs surrounding life, death, and the afterlife. Because of its deeply theological and supernatural content, some have compared the poem to the works of dante. The dream of gerontius by john henry newman free ebook.
The poem, written after newmans conversion from anglicanism to roman catholicism, 1 explores his new catholicheld beliefs of the journey from death through paradise to god and thence to purgatory. Dream of gerontius import elgar artist, rattle artist format. Apr 10, 2020 project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. The project gutenberg ebook of the dream of gerontius, by. If a poem is not musi cal in expression, its metres fail ot producing the effect they are intended to produce. And it is to such that the berliner philharmoniker and conductor. Not by the token of this faltering breath, this chill at heart, this dampness on my. Here i am, an old man in a dry month, being read to by a boy, waiting for rain. Aug 07, 2008 today, elgars the dream of gerontius is a national monument. Groeschel, cfr john henry cardinal newmans renowned poem describes the death of an old man and the journey of his soul to the judgment seat of god. Price new from used from audio cd, import, november 5, 2002. The dream of gerontius was a poem written by cardinal john newman.
Cardinal newmans words are beyond atrocious as poetry, and i find their sadomasochistic doctrinal underpinning sickening o happy, suffering soul. It is based on the epic poem, the dream of gerontius by john henry newman written in 1865. The dream of gerontius is an 1865 poem written by st john henry newman consisting of the prayer of a dying man, and angelic and demonic responses. It relates the journey of a pious mans soul from his deathbed to his judgment before god and settling into purgatory. The poem, written after newmans conversion from anglicanism to roman catholicism, explores his new catholicheld beliefs of the journey from death through paradise to god and thence to purgatory. Edward elgar received a copy of the poem in 1889 on the occasion of his marriage. A priest goes to the bed of the dying gerontius, along with fellow christians, to pray for their brother. Such is the popularity today of elgars oratorio that it is easy to overlook the fact that newmans poem, which elgar took as the basis of his libretto, had experienced remarkable success in its own right long before elgar turned his serious attention to it. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. First published in 1865, it quickly became a bestseller in its field.
A journey into the soul elgars masterpiece the dream of gerontius is regarded as one of the most powerful religious choral works ever written. Everyone who loves elgar acclaims the dream of gerontius as a masterpiece. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. Such is the popularity today of elgars oratorio that it is easy to overlook the fact that. Cardinal newmans poem the dream of gerontius was a wellknown and muchloved work in its own right by the time elgar came to set it to music in 1900. For it is safe, consumed, yet quickened by the glance of god. Newmans theology in the dream of gerontius article pdf available in new blackfriars 82967. Not by the token of this faltering breath, this chill at heart, this dampness on my brow, jesu, have mercy. Nov 05, 2015 edward elgar 18571934 the dream of gerontius, op. While the work enjoys nearly the same esteem as handels messiah and mendelssohns elijah in its native land, almost every performance abroad is seen as a rediscovery. The dream of gerontius tells the story of a devout believer and his journey through death into the afterlife, his judgement by god, and his descent into purgatory where he will prepare and atone before entering heaven. Follow the text of edward elgars the dream of gerontius, to text from the poem by cardinal john henry newman. I know it now, not by the token of this faltering breath. The other alternative is brittens, although it is at times a little too eccentric for general consumption.
It had been translated into french and german and was reprinted during newmans lifetime. It achieved further notoriety when general gordon died at khartoum leaving behind a copy with personal annotations that were then copied by admirers. Newman wrote the dream of gerontius later in his life as he was beginning to contemplate his final end. Other articles where the dream of gerontius is discussed. Elgar and the dream of gerontius conducting electricity. Dec 23, 2019 project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman. May 11, 2019 project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman. The 20th centurys most beautiful oratorio was written right at the beginning technically, just a little before it. The bbc called it a national monument, whilst classicfm labelled it the most epic choral stupendousness. Like dantes works, newmans poem does not sacrifice narrative suspense and ingenuity for depth of thought, instead retaining both. As part of his conception, the poem was a dense tapestry interweaving symbolism, mysticism and catholic doctrine. Jan 14, 2012 as the bbc once said in the introduction to a concert, edward elgars oratorio the dream of gerontius is seen in great britain as a national monument. Elgar completed his masterpiece, the dream of gerontius, in 1900 and, despite some resistance from the anglican church around the catholic dogma of some parts of cardinal newmans text, elgars extraordinary work eventually came to be regarded as the greatest oratorio.
In ten preceding segments we have read and briefly commented on most of the poem. Magdalena kozena mezzosoprano toby spence tenor roderick williams baritone bbc proms youth choir vienna philharmonic orchestra sir simon rattle conductor. Newmans masterpiece continues to be performed to this day. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Why are none of these comments addressing the pronunciation of gerontius by cardinal newman. It is also the expression of his personal experience of illness and his perception of the death of many loved ones. Project gutenberg 58, free ebooks 16 by john henry newman. Elgar was inspired to write the music but used the poem of cardinal newman.
He leads gerontius soul before christs throne for judgment. The dream of gerontius the complete text classic fm. The dream of gerontius christian classics ethereal library. Elgar, who was also a catholic, set the poem as a commission for the birmingham festival in 1900. It is well to take a great poem like this without too much inquiry or analysis. The piece follows an everyman character the word gerontius come from the greek for old man as he faces death, meets his guardian angel and goes before his god before being taken to purgatory with the promise of. Dream of gerontius has been added to your cart add to cart. The poem itself tells the story of an old man and his souls entrance into purgatory after death. Eventually he finished his now famous oratorio in 1900. Based on a poem by john henry cardinal newman, it dispensed with the traditional admixture of recitatives, arias, and choruses, using instead a continuous musical texture as in the musical dramas of richard wagner. Pdf newmans theology in the dream of gerontius researchgate. A guide to why elgars the dream of gerontius is the most.
But the absence of didacticism in tone and diction does not mean that newman abandoned the. The dream of gerontius, conclusion saint cardinal john. However, brittens performance on decca is coupled with deliuss seadrift and another work by holst, whereas barbirollis has no pairing. Full text of the dream of gerontius internet archive. Elgar chose as his text cardinal newmans long poem the dream of gerontius, which follows the death of an old man hence the name gerontius with its greek root ger.