The Pipes of Pan

Lyrics#

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 !

Recordings#

• 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

References#

• Banfield, Stephen, Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century (Cambridge University Press, 1985)
• Kennedy, Michael Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, Third ed., 1987)
• Moore, Jerrold Northrop Edward Elgar: A Creative Life (Oxford University Press, 1984)