A War Song

"A War Song", originally called "A Soldier's Song", was a poem written by C. Flavell Hayward[1] and set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1884.

It was dedicated to "F. G. P." (Frederick Pedley),[2] who gave its first performance on 18 March 1884 at a Worcester Glee Club meeting in the Crown Hotel, Broad Street, Worcester.

In 1903 it was re-published by Boosey & Co. with the name A War Song, as Elgar's Op.

Porte in his book describing the works of Elgar commends 'the two numbers comprising Opus 5.

'[3] It was performed at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 October of that year, sung by Kennerley Rumford.