Though an indisputably masterful composer for the voice, Elgar was not always as skilful in picking texts as he was setting them to music. The composer's Sea Pictures (1897 - 99) for contralto and large orchestra are based on some rather pedestrian verses which, nonetheless, Elgar manages to touch with magic. The songs range from the calm but brooding "Sea Slumber-Song" (Noel) to the fiercely exultant "A Sabbath Morning at Sea" (Browning), with the jewel-like "Where Corals Lie" (Garnett) nestled among all the grandeur. The music has a compelling sweep and sincerity that compares favorably with the sentimental miniatures perhaps more usually associated with the vocal music of Victorian England.



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