Elderado - Edgar Allan Poe

It's with excitement that I reveal a new creative direction of putting Edgar Allan Poe's creative works to music.

A lesser known poem, I've chosen, as it goes quite well with a tune I had already composed. The concept of the tune as being some sort of "Adventure Song" goes quite well with the theme. I must admit, that in analyzing the rhythm of the poem and the meaning of the words, it's left an indelible mark in my soul.

I believe if you study poetry with greater detail, as happens when attempting to write music for it, you appreciate and understand the authors intent, just a bit more.

 

Eldorado
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Gaily bedight,
   A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,  
   Had journeyed long,  
   Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

   But he grew old—
   This knight so bold—  
And o’er his heart a shadow—  
   Fell as he found
   No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

   And, as his strength  
   Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow—  
   ‘Shadow,’ said he,  
   ‘Where can it be—
This land of Eldorado?’

   ‘Over the Mountains
   Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,  
   Ride, boldly ride,’
   The shade replied,—
‘If you seek for Eldorado!’