King Olaf / The Banner of Saint George

Album by Edward Elgar & Emily Birsan & Barry Banks & Alan Opie & Bergen Filharmoniske Kor & Collegiûm Mûsicûm & Edvard Grieg Kor & Bergen filharmoniske orkester & Sir Andrew Davis

Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf and The Banner of Saint George are two choral works by English composer Edward Elgar, composed in 1896 and 1897 respectively. Both pieces showcase Elgar's early mastery of orchestration and choral writing, with King Olaf narrating the tale of Norway's first Christian king and The Banner of Saint George celebrating the legendary dragon-slaying saint.
First released: January 2015

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Introduction. Soli and Chorus: ‘There is [...] a wondrous book’. Andante -
    3:07
  2. 2.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Sigrid. Recitative. Bass: "Hark! she flies from Wendland forth". Allegretto -
    0:42
  3. 3.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Introduction. Recitative. Bass: "Summon now the God of Thunder". Allegro con fuoco - Poco meno mosso -
    0:57
  4. 4.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Thyri. Chorus (Ballad): "A little bird in the air". Allegro -
    4:48
  5. 5.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Challenge of Thor. Chorus: "I am the God Thor". Moderato - Molto maestoso -
    4:01
  6. 6.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Thyri. Duet. Thyri (Soprano): "The gray land breaks to lively green". Allegro - Tranquillo -
    2:19
  7. 7.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: King Olaf's Return. Solo. Tenor: "And King Olaf heard the cry". Allegro - [ ] - Allegro - Allegro molto - Tranquillo - Più mosso - Moderato - Allegro - Poco più mosso - Tempo I
    6:44
  8. 8.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Thyri. Olaf (Tenor): "Thyri, my beloved". Moderato - [ ] - Più tranquillo - Più mosso - Lento - [ ]
    6:09
  9. 9.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Thyri. Choral Recitative: "After Queen Gunhild’s death". Allegro moderato -
    1:30
  10. 10.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: King Olaf's Return. Recitative. Bass: "Tell how Olaf bore the Cross". Allegro moderato - Meno mosso - Più lento -
    0:38
  11. 11.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Death of Olaf. Chorus: "King Olaf’s dragons take the sea". Allegro - Vivace – Più mosso - Poco a poco meno mosso -
    6:41
  12. 12.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Conversion. Scene. Chorus: "King Olaf’s prows at Nidaros". Allegro moderato - Poco più mosso - L’istesso tempo - [ ] -
    3:07
  13. 13.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Conversion. Olaf (Tenor): "Behold me, my people, and answer and say". [ ] - Allegro - Più mosso - L’istesso tempo - Più mosso - [ ] -
    4:58
  14. 14.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Epilogue. Soli and Chorus. Recitative. Bass: "In the convent of Drontheim". Allegro -
    1:29
  15. 15.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Conversion. Chorus: "As leap the lights of winter". Allegro con fuoco - Moderato - Lento - [ ] - Animato -
    3:02
  16. 16.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Epilogue. Soli and Chorus: “It is accepted”. Andante - [ ] -
    3:19
  17. 17.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Epilogue. Soli and Chorus: “Stronger than steel”. Più mosso - Animato - Andante (Tempo I)
    4:48
  18. 18.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Conversion. Chorus: "Then o’er the blood-stained Horg-stone". L’istesso tempo - Lento - Allegretto - [ ] - Allargando al fine
    5:35
  19. 19.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Conversion. Recitative. Bass: "Now the child of Ironbeard dead". Andantino -
    0:44
  20. 20.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 1. "Within Sylenë’s walls no sound is heard". Andantino - Animato - Tempo I -
    2:41
  21. 21.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Gudrun. Scene. Soprano: "On King Olaf’s bridal night". Adagio - Più mosso - Tempo I - Poco più mosso - [Tempo I] - Allegro - Allegro molto - [Tempo I]
    6:07
  22. 22.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 1. "The women of Sylenë rend their hair". Allegretto - Andantino -
    1:37
  23. 23.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Gudrun. Recitative. Bass: "How the Wraith of Odin old". Allegro -
    0:48
  24. 24.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 1. "Forth from the palace, beautiful as day". Allegretto - Più mosso - Animato - [ ] - A tempo [Più mosso] - Poco lento -
    3:18
  25. 25.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Wraith of Odin. Chorus (Ballad): "The guests were loud, the ale was strong". Allegro - L’istesso tempo - Molto sostenuto - [Tempo I]
    5:43
  26. 26.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 1. “O calm your hearts [she cries] O still your fears”. Allegro -
    3:12
  27. 27.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 2. "Without a fear beside the dragon’s tarn". Andante - Tranquillo - L’istesso tempo -
    2:46
  28. 28.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: The Wraith of Odin. Recitative. Bass: "Sisters, sing ye now the song". Allegro -
    0:43
  29. 29.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Sigrid.Scene. Chorus: "Sigrid sits in her high abode". Allegro -
    2:23
  30. 30.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 2. "Hark! ’tis the ringing hoof of steed". Allegro - [ ] -
    2:38
  31. 31.
    Scenes From the Saga of King Olaf: Sigrid. Olaf (Tenor): "Sigrid, hail! with royal hand". Meno mosso - Più animato - Più animato - Allegro con fuoco - [ ] - Meno mosso - [Allegro con fuoco]
    4:32
  32. 32.
    The Banner of Saint George: Scene 2. "Loud cry the people, Haste! the dragon comes!”. [ ] - Tempo I - L’istesso tempo - Andantino - Animato - Più lento
    5:25
  33. 33.
    The Banner of Saint George: Epilogue (March). "It comes from the misty ages". Maestoso, alla Marcia - Largamente e grandioso
    5:36

Credits