Owls (An Epitaph) (Edward Elgar)

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• (Posted 2023-10-12)  CPDL #76273:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-12).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 701 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2019-08-25)  CPDL #55167:     

Editor: Jan Wilke (submitted 2019-08-25).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 73 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Owls (An Epitaph)
Composer: Edward Elgar
Lyricist: Edward Elgar

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1908 Novello and Co.
Description: Op. 53, No. 4

Original text and translations

English text

What is that?…Nothing;
The leaves must fall, and falling, rustle;
That is all;
They are dead
As they fall, –
Dead at the foot of the tree;
All that can be is said. ...
What is it? …Nothing;

What is that?…Nothing;
A wild thing hurt but mourns in the night,
And it cries
In its dread,
Till it lies
Dead at the foot of the tree;
All that can be is said.
What is it? …Nothing;

What is that? …Ah!
A marching slow of unseen feet,
That is all:
But a bier, spread
With a pall,
Is now at the foot of the tree;
All that could be said;
Is it… what. …Nothing.