Scenes from The Saga of King Olaf, op. 30
Cantata
King Olaf (full title: Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf) is a cantata by the British composer Edward Elgar, scored for soloists, chorus and orchestra. It was commissioned for the North Staffordshire Music Festival of 1896, where it was well received. It went on to be performed by choral societies in other parts of the country.
Before the success of the Enigma Variations in 1899 consolidated his national reputation, Elgar was chiefly known for choral works such as The Black Knight and King Olaf. These early choral works have since been largely eclipsed, but King Olaf has been revived in recent years.
Movements
- Introduction. "There is a wondrous book"
- Introduction. Recitative "Summon now the God of Thunder"
- The Challenge of Thor. Chorus "I am the God Thor"
- King Olaf's Return. Solo "And King Olaf heard the cry"
- King Olaf's Return. Recitative "Tell how Olaf bore the Cross"
- Conversation. Scene. Chorus "King Olaf's prows at Nidaros"
- The Conversion. Recitative "Now the child of Ironbeard dead"
- Gudrun. Scene. Soprano "On King Olaf's bridal night"
- Gudrun. Recitative "How the Wraith of Odin old"
- The Wraith of Odin. Chorus "The guests were loud, the ale was strong"
- The Wraith of Odin. Recitative "Sisters, sing ye now the song"
- Sigrid. Scene. Chorus "Sigrid sits in her high abode"
- Recitative "Hark! She flies from Wendland forth"
- Thyri. Chorus "A little bird in the air"
- Thyri. Duet "The gray land breaks to lively green"
- Thyri. Choral Recitative “After Queen Gunhild’s death”
- The Death of Olaf. Chorus “King Olaf’s dragons take the sea”
Epilogue
- Soli and Chorus. Recitative “In the convent of Drontheim”