It was Masefield's first commission as Poet Laureate, and Elgar, as Master of the King's Musick, was requested to set the verses in mid-May 1932, shortly before his seventy-fifth birthday. Elgar originally set the poem to an orchestral accompaniment but, due to a change of plan, the accompaniment was hurriedly re-arranged by Captain Andrew Harris of the Welsh Guards so it could be played by a military band. The day chosen for the unveiling of the memorial by the King was Alexandra Rose Day. At the beginning of the ceremony outside Marlborough House, Elgar, wearing magnificent robes, conducted the chorister children of the Chapels Royal, the choir of Westminster Abbey, and the band of the Guards in a performance of the Ode. The orchestra and band parts have since been lost. The only manuscript of the work is in the Library of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle: a vocal score handwritten by the composer, which includes indications of the orchestral instrumentation.
The music
The work starts with a short fanfare-like figure, followed by a lengthy prelude by the orchestra before the choir enters, unaccompanied, with the words "So many true princesses who have gone". It is notable that though the work is in the key of E-flat it ends in the subdominant key of B-flat, giving a feeling of incompleteness: it is not known if the composer had intended to extend the work or if the effect was intentional. However the effect of the whole is of appropriate simplicity and wistfulness, and seems to ask for delicacy of instrumentation. There are four verses of four lines, and the performing time is about six minutes.
Lyrics
The lyrics to 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".
Revival and recordings
Choir and piano: So many true princesses who have gone and other music by Elgar, performed by Barry Collett and Tudor Choir. On CD – The Unknown Elgar – Pearl SHECD9635
Choir and orchestra: Queen Alexandra's Memorial Ode arranged by John Morrison for choir and small orchestra, performed by Bristol University Musical Society, at in 2002
