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Elgar rediscovered Elgar rediscovered
(about 1 hour later)
by Nick Higham BBC News Poignant songs: Charles Mott (second from right) died in France in 1918 by Nick Higham BBC News
A long-forgotten Elgar work has been rediscovered. It is a series of five patriotic songs called The Fringes of the Fleet, mostly with words by Kipling, written at the height of WWI and toured to music halls by four singers in seamen's and fishermen's costumes.A long-forgotten Elgar work has been rediscovered. It is a series of five patriotic songs called The Fringes of the Fleet, mostly with words by Kipling, written at the height of WWI and toured to music halls by four singers in seamen's and fishermen's costumes.
Elgar's The Fringes of the Fleet was once hugely popular. In 1917, at the height of the First World War, it was a copper-bottomed hit.Elgar's The Fringes of the Fleet was once hugely popular. In 1917, at the height of the First World War, it was a copper-bottomed hit.
Thousands heard it at one of the twice daily performances in June and July of that year at the Coliseum, London's leading music hall.Thousands heard it at one of the twice daily performances in June and July of that year at the Coliseum, London's leading music hall.
They would have seen the four-strong cast, led by the baritone Charles Mott, sporting sou'westers, seaboots, fishermen's jerseys and lashings of greasepaint, their nautical costumes mimicking what Elgar called the "broad saltwater style" of his music.They would have seen the four-strong cast, led by the baritone Charles Mott, sporting sou'westers, seaboots, fishermen's jerseys and lashings of greasepaint, their nautical costumes mimicking what Elgar called the "broad saltwater style" of his music.
They could buy the vocal score on the way out of the theatre for 3/6d. Thousands more would have heard the performance when it toured the provinces, or bought the original cast recording, conducted (like the Coliseum performances) by Elgar himself.They could buy the vocal score on the way out of the theatre for 3/6d. Thousands more would have heard the performance when it toured the provinces, or bought the original cast recording, conducted (like the Coliseum performances) by Elgar himself.
Yet by the end of 1917 the work had almost vanished. The new recording by the Guildford Philharmonic is billed as the first fully professional orchestral performance in over 90 years: the conductor Tom Higgins had to get Elgar's original manuscript parts from the British Library to prepare a proper performing edition.Yet by the end of 1917 the work had almost vanished. The new recording by the Guildford Philharmonic is billed as the first fully professional orchestral performance in over 90 years: the conductor Tom Higgins had to get Elgar's original manuscript parts from the British Library to prepare a proper performing edition.
Baritone Frederick Stewart Baritone Frederick Stewart was one of the show's four stars
One reason for its disappearance may be that it was written as a patriotic wartime morale-booster, and as such was always likely to have a limited life. It celebrates an imperial ideal and the values, including teamwork and self-sacrifice, that underpinned the Empire: "The game is more than the player of the game, And the ship is more than the crew," runs the chorus to one song. Such sentiments went out of fashion in the pleasure-loving 1920s. One reason for its disappearance may be that it was written as a patriotic wartime morale-booster, and as such was always likely to have a limited life.
It celebrates an imperial ideal and the values, including teamwork and self-sacrifice, that underpinned the Empire: "The game is more than the player of the game, And the ship is more than the crew," runs the chorus to one song. Such sentiments went out of fashion in the pleasure-loving 1920s.
But there's more to it than that. Behind the work's neglect lie wartime tragedy and loss.But there's more to it than that. Behind the work's neglect lie wartime tragedy and loss.
Elgar's starting point was a set of poems written by Rudyard Kipling to accompany a series of newspaper articles in November and December 1915.Elgar's starting point was a set of poems written by Rudyard Kipling to accompany a series of newspaper articles in November and December 1915.
Catchy
At the time, the Royal Navy's popularity was at a low ebb. The public had expected a great sea battle with the German Fleet, but it had failed to materialise as Britain's dreadnoughts and battlecruisers apparently skulked in port.At the time, the Royal Navy's popularity was at a low ebb. The public had expected a great sea battle with the German Fleet, but it had failed to materialise as Britain's dreadnoughts and battlecruisers apparently skulked in port.
Fury Kipling set out to celebrate a branch of the Navy that may have lacked the glamour of the battleships but was nevertheless vital: the naval auxiliaries like submarines, minesweepers and the fishing boats conscripted as coastal defence vessels.
Kipling set out to celebrate a branch of the navy that may have lacked the glamour of the battleships but was nevertheless vital: the naval auxiliaries like submarines, minesweepers and the fishing boats conscripted as coastal defence vessels.
A year or so later the Navy's reputation still needed a boost and Elgar was approached by Admiral Charles Beresford to set the poems to music.A year or so later the Navy's reputation still needed a boost and Elgar was approached by Admiral Charles Beresford to set the poems to music.
The Fringes of the Fleet was first performed at London's Coliseum
Beresford was a colourful and sometimes controversial figure, who had been one of the most powerful men in the pre-war Navy but had been pipped to the post of First Sea Lord by his great rival, Jackie Fisher. He was reputed to have an entire foxhunt tattooed on his back, the fox disappearing somewhere beneath the Beresford belt.Beresford was a colourful and sometimes controversial figure, who had been one of the most powerful men in the pre-war Navy but had been pipped to the post of First Sea Lord by his great rival, Jackie Fisher. He was reputed to have an entire foxhunt tattooed on his back, the fox disappearing somewhere beneath the Beresford belt.
Elgar set four of the poems. The Lowestoft Boat is a rollicking number about one of those converted fishing boats and its motley crew. Fate's Discourtesy is a tribute to the stoicism of sailors in the face of nature's hostility. Submarines is short and eerie:Elgar set four of the poems. The Lowestoft Boat is a rollicking number about one of those converted fishing boats and its motley crew. Fate's Discourtesy is a tribute to the stoicism of sailors in the face of nature's hostility. Submarines is short and eerie:
The Fringes of the Fleet was first performed at London's Coliseum Loss
Elgar achieved a rather sinister musical effect in his accompaniment by using two sandblocks rubbed together. And the chorus of The Sweepers catchily lists the minesweepers called out to clear the "fairway": Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock and Golden Gain.Elgar achieved a rather sinister musical effect in his accompaniment by using two sandblocks rubbed together. And the chorus of The Sweepers catchily lists the minesweepers called out to clear the "fairway": Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock and Golden Gain.
Later Elgar set a fifth poem, Inside the Bar, by another writer, Sir Gilbert Parker.Later Elgar set a fifth poem, Inside the Bar, by another writer, Sir Gilbert Parker.
But in November 1917 Kipling, despite the work's popularity, asked for performances to be stopped.But in November 1917 Kipling, despite the work's popularity, asked for performances to be stopped.
Andrew Dalton of the Elgar Society and Kipling's biographer, Andrew Lycett, both think the poet's decision may have had something to do indirectly with the death of his son, John, who had been posted missing in action at the Battle of Loos in 1915.Andrew Dalton of the Elgar Society and Kipling's biographer, Andrew Lycett, both think the poet's decision may have had something to do indirectly with the death of his son, John, who had been posted missing in action at the Battle of Loos in 1915.
When Kipling wrote the poems he was still coming to terms with John's death. Two years on his attitude seems to have hardened. Some have suggested that John's death left him disenchanted with the war: Andrew Lycett points out that Kipling never disavowed the war and continued to urge its continuation when others were suggesting making peace.When Kipling wrote the poems he was still coming to terms with John's death. Two years on his attitude seems to have hardened. Some have suggested that John's death left him disenchanted with the war: Andrew Lycett points out that Kipling never disavowed the war and continued to urge its continuation when others were suggesting making peace.
Nautical rig: Baritone Frederick Henry
But he may have resented the way poems he'd written at a particularly difficult time in his life were now being used as a form of entertainment, though Andrew Dalton says Elgar's setting of Submarines in particular is remarkably sombre and solemn, and wonders if Kipling ever actually heard the songs.But he may have resented the way poems he'd written at a particularly difficult time in his life were now being used as a form of entertainment, though Andrew Dalton says Elgar's setting of Submarines in particular is remarkably sombre and solemn, and wonders if Kipling ever actually heard the songs.
Whether he did or not, Elgar felt obliged to comply with his request, though he was privately furious.Whether he did or not, Elgar felt obliged to comply with his request, though he was privately furious.
And within a few months he was to suffer a loss of his own. Elgar and his wife had no son, but Elgar had grown close to Charles Mott, the lead baritone in the Fringes of the Fleet.And within a few months he was to suffer a loss of his own. Elgar and his wife had no son, but Elgar had grown close to Charles Mott, the lead baritone in the Fringes of the Fleet.
In 1917 Mott was called up, and had to miss the Fringes provincial tour. On 22 May 1918 he died of wounds sustained two days earlier in fighting at the Front. Today Lance Corporal Charles Mott of the Artists' Rifles, one of the finest singers of his generation, lies buried in Grave 2, Plot 11, Row C of Bagneux Military Cemetery, near Doullens in northern France. In 1917 Mott was called up, and had to miss the Fringes provincial tour. On 22 May 1918 he died of wounds sustained two days earlier in fighting at the Front.
Today Lance Corporal Charles Mott of the Artists' Rifles, one of the finest singers of his generation, lies buried in Grave 2, Plot 11, Row C of Bagneux Military Cemetery, near Doullens in northern France.