{"product_id":"siegfried-sasoon-memorial-tablet","title":"Siegfried Sasoon - Memorial Tablet","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a collection of readings by the writer and poet Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967), available on CD and digital download.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecorded in the 1950s, Sassoon reads three extracts from his autobiographical prose works \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Weald of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, covering the outbreak of war in 1914 and his experience of the Battle of the Somme two years later. He also recites ten of his best known war poems, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dug-Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAt Carnoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAttack\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDied of Wounds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e12 Months After\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Troops\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn Passing the New Menin Gate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTo One Who Was With Me in the War\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 57 minute CD also includes readings of eight postwar civilian poems by Sassoon, as well as commentary on his life and work by three other celebrated Great War writers: Edmund Blunden, Edgell Rickword and Henry Williamson. The spoken word material is punctuated by the very first recording of Edward Elgar's celebrated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, made in December 1916 with Marie Hall on violin. The piece was a favourite of Sassoon during the Great War period, and this acoustic recording conveys to the modern listener how classical music was performed (and heard on disc) at the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a must for anyone with an interest in Great War poetry and prose, and is also ideal for library, museum, educational and tour use. The cover image is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarvest of Battle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1919), by C.R.W. Nevinson (courtesy IWM, London). To order CD please select correct shipping option and click on Add To Cart button.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Both poems and prose come across powerfully. The excellent accompanying booklet gives a brief life of Sassoon, and puts into context his ambivalent feelings about the war\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBBC History Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"A valuable historical document\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eStand To!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"The first ever audio collection of readings by the celebrated writer and poet\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBest of British\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"For Elgarians, as well as devotees of Sassoon, this is a precious document - a must buy!\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eElgar Society Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Highly recommended for those who are interested in WW1 and, in particular, Sassoon. It is fascinating to hear him read his own poems\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmazon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"A wonderful CD\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmazon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1. Edward Elgar: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (andante)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2. July 31st 1914 (extract from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Weald of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dug-Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAt Carnoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAttack\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDied of Wounds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e12 Months After\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e8. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrelude: The Troops\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9. Elgar: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (cadenza)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10. July 1916: The Somme (extract from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e11. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn Passing the New Menin Gate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e13. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTo One Who Was With Me in the War\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e14. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eElected Silence\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15. 1919: After the War Mood (extract from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSiegfried's Journey\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e16. Edmund Blunden \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn Sassoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e17. Edgell Rickword \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn Sassoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18. Henry Williamson \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn Sassoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e19. Elgar: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (allegro)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e20. April 1905: Early Life (from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Weald of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e21. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Merciful Knight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e22. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eVigils\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Pt. 9)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e23. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwo Old Ladies\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eVigils\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Pt. 8)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e25. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Heart's Journey\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Pt. 7)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e26. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eVigils\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Pt. 7)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e27. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAcceptance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e28. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hardened Heart\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e29. Elgar: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (allegro molto)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLiner notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether with Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSiegfried Sassoon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1886-1967) remains one of the best-known soldier poets of the Great War of 1914-18. On these recordings, made during the early 1950s, Sassoon himself recites several of his most acclaimed war poems, as well as selections from his classic prose works \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Weald of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSiegfried Lorraine Sassoon was born in September 1886 at Weirleigh, in Kent, and educated at Marlborough and Cambridge. He left Cambridge without taking a degree, and lived instead as a country gentleman, hunting, playing cricket and writing poetry, printed privately in nine pamphlets between 1906 and 1912. When war broke out in August 1914 he joined the Sussex Yeomanry as a trooper, but quickly resolved to seek a commission in the infantry, and in April 1915 transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers. In November Sassoon went to France as a junior officer, and wrote his front-line poem \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Redeemer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that same month. His battalion then moved south to the Somme, and by February 1916 Sassoon had written his first outspoken war poem, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn the Pink\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Whereas Sassoon's civilian poetry had often been imitative and immature, in the midst of war he found a true and original voice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn May Sassoon took part in a raiding party which was pinned down by German machine gun fire, and won the Military Cross for his part in the rescue of survivors and wounded. The celebrated 'Mad Jack' incident, during which Sassoon launched a solo grenade attack on an enemy trench near Mametz Wood, took place some time later, at the beginning of July. Afterwards he was recommended (albeit unsuccessfully) for a Victoria Cross. Sassoon survived the first three weeks of the Battle of the Somme, but was then invalided out of the line with a respiratory infection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter six months' convalescence in England Sassoon returned to France in February 1917, and in April took part in the Battle of Arras. However, after just eight days in the line he received a sniper's bullet through his right shoulder, and was again sent home. Already Sassoon had recorded that he was losing his belief in the manner the war was being conducted, and penned a courageous attack which he contrived to have printed in the press, and read aloud in the House of Commons. In it he proclaimed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e'I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and went on to charge that a just war of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e'defence and liberation has now become a war of aggression and conquest.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSassoon expected a court-martial, but was instead treated as suffering from shell-shock, and dispatched to Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh. There he established two important friendships, with the young poet Wilfrid Owen, whom he encouraged and assisted, and with the best of his doctors, the psychologist and anthropologist W.H.R. Rivers. In time Sassoon decided to fight again, and in May 1918 rejoined his old battalion in France. In June his second volume of war poetry, the savage \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCounter-Attack\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, was published, and established him as a supremely realistic yet compassionate poet. The following month he sustained a head wound from a British bullet, which although relatively minor put an end to further active service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the best known of his prose war memoirs, was first published in 1930, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Weald of Youth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, an account of his pre-war years, appeared in 1942. Siegfried Sassoon died at home at Heytesbury, near Warminster, on September 1st 1967.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOf the war poems read on this CD, the approximate dates of inspiration and\/or composition are thought to be as follows: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dug-Out\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (July 1918); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAt Carnoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (3 July 1916); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAttack\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (October 1917); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDied of Wounds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (July 1916); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e12 Months After\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (October 1917); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrelude: The Troops\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (autumn 1917); \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemorial Tablet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (October 1918). The passage from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e relates to July 1916, when the Royal Welch Fusiliers were in the line on the Somme.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn this CD several of Sassoon's contemporaries also offer comment on his work, including the war poets Edmund Blunden (1896-1974) and Edgell Rickword (1898-1982), who served with the Royal Sussex Regiment and Royal Berkshire Regiment respectively, and Henry Williamson (1895-1977), of the Rifle Brigade, best known for his novel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTarka the Otter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe four abridgements from Edward Elgar's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eViolin Concerto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in B Minor were recorded on 16 December 1916, and represent the first ever recordings of these compositions. The soloist was a young violinist of great ability, Marie Hall, who studied under Elgar at Malvern. The records originally appeared on the HMV label D79\/80, matrix references HO 2408-9af\/2412af\/2410af. The Violin Concerto is significant here in that it was one of the Sassoon's favourite compositions, and even inspired him to pen a new poem on first hearing it in January 1917. These acoustic recordings are also valuable in that they convey to the modern listener how classical music was performed (and heard on disc) at the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll poems and prose by Siegfried Sassoon appears by kind permission of George Sassoon. All material by Edward Elgar is published by Novello \u0026amp; Co Ltd. The cover painting \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Harvest of Battle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by C.R.W. Nevinson (1889-1946) appears by kind permission of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London. Oil on canvas, 182.8 x 317.5 cm. Completed 1919.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFurther reading\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSiegfried Sassoon, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCollected Poems\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Faber, 1961\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSiegfried Sassoon, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMemoirs of an Infantry Officer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Faber, 1930\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Stuart Roberts, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSiegfried Sassoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Richard Cohen, 1999\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJean Moorcroft Wilson, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSiegfried Sassoon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Duckworth, 1998\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePat Barker, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRegeneration\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Viking, 1991\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CD41","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":67995529281812,"sku":"CD41-008","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/0284\/0084\/files\/51_xTo0hvPL._UX716_FMwebp_QL85.webp?v=1793922132","url":"https:\/\/primeunion.shop\/products\/siegfried-sasoon-memorial-tablet","provider":"Linden \u0026 Oak","version":"1.0","type":"link"}