"Big Steamers" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1911 as one of his twenty-three poems written specially for C. R. L. Fletcher's "A School History of England".[1] It appears in the last chapter of the book. It is intended for children, with the verses responding with facts and humour to their curiosity about the 'big steamers' - as the merchant ships are called.
The poem has been set to music by two English composers: Edward German and Edward Elgar. The poem was also put to music by English folk singer and Kipling Society Fellow Peter Bellamy.
German's setting was for baritone voice with piano accompaniment, and published by Cramer in 1911.
Elgar set the poem to music late in World War I, with the permission of Kipling, and it was published in "The Teacher's World", June 19, 1918. This was in response to a request from the Ministry of Food Control to set the poem to music,[2] with the intention that it would be sung in schools and bring to the attention of children the importance of merchant ships - at a time when many ships had been lost to German U-boats and food rationing had just been introduced. It was a simple song with piano accompaniment, suitable for children, and the first music Elgar had written for about a year. Elgar wrote to Lord Rhondda:[3]
"The occasion seemed to call for something exceptionally simple and direct, and I have endeavoured to bring the little piece within the comprehension of very small people indeed."[4]
Versesedit
There are seven verses. The first six verses begin with the children's questions and suggestions, each of which has a response from the personified Big Steamers:
1. "Oh, where are you going to, all you Big Steamers,
2. "And where will you fetch if from, all you Big Steamers,
3. "But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers,
4. "Then I'll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers,
5. "Then I'll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers,
6. "Then what can I do for all you Big Steamers,
At the last line the children are reminded of what was, at the time, a serious possibility:
7. ... And if anyone hinders our coming, you'll starve."
Recordingsedit
Choir and piano: Big Steamers and other music by Elgar, performed by Barry Collett (piano) and Tudor Choir. On CD - The Unknown Elgar - Pearl SHECD9635
Roderick Williams, Nicholas Lester, Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock/Guildford Philharmonic/Tom Higgins: Somm SOMMCD243[5] Higgins' arrangement of Elgar's song for four unaccompanied baritones, and his arrangement of German's song for baritone solo (Williams) and orchestra
A version of the Peter Bellamy setting of the poem appears on the 2012 album 'Diversions Volume 3: Songs From The Shipyards' by The Unthanks
See alsoedit
Elgar's settings of four poems from Rudyard Kipling's The Fringes of the Fleet, composed earlier during the war
Lyrics of Big Steamers on the Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Rationing and World War I Describes the introduction of food rationing in 1918 and the importance of the merchant ships
January 01, 1970
steamers, poem, rudyard, kipling, first, published, 1911, twenty, three, poems, written, specially, fletcher, school, history, england, appears, last, chapter, book, intended, children, with, verses, responding, with, facts, humour, their, curiosity, about, st. Big Steamers is a poem by Rudyard Kipling first published in 1911 as one of his twenty three poems written specially for C R L Fletcher s A School History of England 1 It appears in the last chapter of the book It is intended for children with the verses responding with facts and humour to their curiosity about the big steamers as the merchant ships are called Contents 1 Songs 2 Verses 3 Recordings 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksSongs editThe poem has been set to music by two English composers Edward German and Edward Elgar The poem was also put to music by English folk singer and Kipling Society Fellow Peter Bellamy German s setting was for baritone voice with piano accompaniment and published by Cramer in 1911 Elgar set the poem to music late in World War I with the permission of Kipling and it was published in The Teacher s World June 19 1918 This was in response to a request from the Ministry of Food Control to set the poem to music 2 with the intention that it would be sung in schools and bring to the attention of children the importance of merchant ships at a time when many ships had been lost to German U boats and food rationing had just been introduced It was a simple song with piano accompaniment suitable for children and the first music Elgar had written for about a year Elgar wrote to Lord Rhondda 3 The occasion seemed to call for something exceptionally simple and direct and I have endeavoured to bring the little piece within the comprehension of very small people indeed 4 Verses editThere are seven verses The first six verses begin with the children s questions and suggestions each of which has a response from the personified Big Steamers 1 Oh where are you going to all you Big Steamers dd 2 And where will you fetch if from all you Big Steamers dd 3 But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers dd 4 Then I ll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers dd 5 Then I ll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers dd 6 Then what can I do for all you Big Steamers dd At the last line the children are reminded of what was at the time a serious possibility 7 And if anyone hinders our coming you ll starve dd Recordings editChoir and piano Big Steamers and other music by Elgar performed by Barry Collett piano and Tudor Choir On CD The Unknown Elgar Pearl SHECD9635 Roderick Williams Nicholas Lester Laurence Meikle and Duncan Rock Guildford Philharmonic Tom Higgins Somm SOMMCD243 5 Higgins arrangement of Elgar s song for four unaccompanied baritones and his arrangement of German s song for baritone solo Williams and orchestra A version of the Peter Bellamy setting of the poem appears on the 2012 album Diversions Volume 3 Songs From The Shipyards by The UnthanksSee also editElgar s settings of four poems from Rudyard Kipling s The Fringes of the Fleet composed earlier during the warNotes edit Fletcher Chapter XII Moore p 719 Lord Rhondda Minister of Food Control was ill at the time and died on 3 July Quotation in The Teachers World June 19 1918 Elgar The Fringes of the Fleet etc Williams Guildford PO HigginsReferences editFletcher C R L and Kipling Rudyard A School History of England Oxford Clarendon Press 1911 Moore Jerrold N Edward Elgar a creative life Oxford University Press 1984 ISBN 0 19 315447 1External links editBig Steamers Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Big Steamers notes by Peter Keating Lyrics of Big Steamers on the Lied and Art Song Texts Page Rationing and World War I Describes the introduction of food rationing in 1918 and the importance of the merchant ships Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Big Steamers amp oldid 1205789895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
