Queen Alexandra's Memorial Ode facts for kids
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The Queen Alexandra's Memorial Ode is a special song. It is also known by its first line, "So many true Princesses who have gone." The famous writer John Masefield wrote the words (lyrics). Sir Edward Elgar, a well-known composer, created the music for a choir and orchestra. This beautiful piece was made for a very important event. It was played when a memorial statue for Queen Alexandra was shown to the public. This happened on June 8, 1932, in London, near Marlborough House.
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How the Ode Was Created
This song was a very important job for John Masefield. It was his first big task as the Poet Laureate. A Poet Laureate is a special poet chosen by the King or Queen to write poems for national events.
Sir Edward Elgar was also given a special role. He was the Master of the King's Musick. This means he was the King's official musician. He was asked to put Masefield's words to music in May 1932. This was just before his 75th birthday.
Elgar first wrote the music for an orchestra. But plans changed quickly. The music had to be played by a military band instead. Captain Andrew Harris of the Welsh Guards quickly changed the music so the band could play it.
The Unveiling Ceremony
The memorial was officially shown to the public on Alexandra Rose Day. This day was chosen because it honored Queen Alexandra. King George V himself unveiled the statue.
The ceremony took place outside Marlborough House. Elgar, wearing special robes, led the music. Children from the Chapels Royal sang. The choir of Westminster Abbey also sang. The Guards' band played the music.
Sadly, the original music parts for the orchestra and band are now lost. The only handwritten copy of the music is in the library of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. This copy was written by Elgar himself. It shows how the different instruments were meant to play.
About the Music
The song begins with a short, exciting musical part. This is like a mini-fanfare. After that, the orchestra or band plays a longer introduction. Then, the choir starts singing without any instruments. They sing the words, "So many true princesses who have gone."
The song is mostly in the key of E-flat. But it ends in a different key, B-flat. This makes the music feel a little unfinished. We don't know if Elgar planned to add more to the song later. Or if he wanted it to sound that way on purpose.
The music sounds simple and a bit sad. It feels like it needs gentle instruments to play it. The song has four verses, each with four lines. It takes about six minutes to perform.
The Words of the Song
The words for the song were written by John Masefield.
So many true princesses who have gone
Over the sea, as love or duty bade,
To share abroad, till Death a foreign throne,
Have given all things, and been ill repaid.
Hatred has followed them and bitter days.
But this most lovely woman and loved Queen
Filled all the English nation with her praise;
We gather now to keep her memory green.
Here, at this place, she often sat to mark
The tide of London life go roaring by,
The day-long multitude, the lighted dark,
The night-long wheels, the glaring in the sky.
Now here we set memorial of her stay,
That passers-by remember with a thrill:
"This lovely princess came from far away
And won our hearts, and lives within them still".
Modern Performances and Recordings
Even though the original parts are lost, the Queen Alexandra's Memorial Ode is still performed and recorded today. People have created new versions of the music.
- Choir and piano: You can find a recording with a choir and piano. Barry Collett plays the piano, and the Tudor Choir sings.
- Choir and orchestra: John Morrison created a version for a choir and a small orchestra. The Bristol University Musical Society performed this in 2002.
- Another choir and orchestra version: This song is also included in a recording with other music by Elgar. The Adrian Partington Singers and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales perform it.
- Choir and military band: John Morrison also made a version for choir and wind band in 2010. This brought the music back to how it was first played at the unveiling.
- Wind band only: The Nottingham Concert Band gave the first public performance of a wind band-only version in 2011.
- Choir and organ: The Westminster Abbey Choir, led by James O'Donnell, recorded the Ode with an organ.
