June 2 - Edward Elgar (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Edward Elgar (2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) is arguably the most important British composer between Purcell and Britten.
[For last year's verse, also on Elgar, click here.] 

Solemnis

When Elgar wrote Nimrod

He couldn’t have known,

That soon it would take on 

A life of its own.

The music of Nimrod,

So steady and solemn,

As chaste and severe

As a classical column,

Became the prescription

To make it more bearable

Whenever musicians 

Are feeling just terrible.

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]