The Pipes of Pan (Elgar)
# The Pipes of Pan (Elgar)

The Pipes of Pan è una poesia di Adrian Ross messa in musica dal compositore inglese Edward Elgar, completata il 5 giugno 1899.

## Storia

La canzone fu pubblicata da Boosey nel 1900. La prima esecuzione fu di "Miss Blouvelt" al Crystal Palace il 30 aprile 1900. Elgar arrangiò anche l'accompagnamento per orchestra della canzone, che fu cantata per la prima volta da Andrew Black alla Queen's Hall il 12 maggio 1900.

Le prime edizioni della partitura vocale portano l'iscrizione "Cantata dal signor Ivor Foster"; Foster era un popolare cantante d'opera e, in particolare, cantante da concerto del momento, i cui crediti comprendevano la partecipazione alla serie di concerti di ballate di Boosey.

## Versi

THE PIPES OF PAN

    When the woods are gay in the time of June
       With the Chestnut flow’r and fan,
    And the birds are still in the hush of noon, -
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    He plays on the reed that once was a maid
       Who broke from his arms and ran,
    And her soul goes out to the list’ning glade -
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    Though you hear, come not near,
       Fearing the wood-god’s ban ;
    Soft and sweet, in the dim retreat,
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    When the sun goes down and the stars are out,
       He gathers his goat-foot clan,
    And the Dryads dance with the Satyr rout ;
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    For he pipes the dance of the happy Earth
       Ere ever the gods began,
    When the woods were merry and mad with mirth -
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    Come not nigh, pass them by,
       Woe to the eyes that scan !
    Wild and loud to the leaping crowd,
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    When the armies meet on the battle field,
       And the fight is man to man,
    With the gride of sword and the clash of shield -
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    Thro’ the madden’d shriek of the flying rear,
       Thro’ the roar of the charging van,
    There skirls the tune of the God of Fear -
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !
    Ours the fray – on and slay,
       Let him escape that can !
    Ringing out in the battle shout,
       Hark to the pipes of Pan !

## Incisioni

* Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "The Pipes of Pan" performed by Peter Savidge (baritone), with David Owen Norris (piano).
* The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Christopher Maltman (baritone) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999
