Edward William Elgar (1857-1934)
Composer
Born in Worcestershire, Elgar was almost entirely self-taught and harboured early ambitions to become a professional solo violinist before focusing on composition. Throughout his twenties and thirties his musical activities were largely confined to the Midlands, and it was not until the premiere of the Enigma Variations (1899) (a series of musical portraits depicting close friends and colleagues, based on an original theme) and the great oratorio The Dream of Gerontius (1900) that he achieved national recognition. He was knighted four years later, and his Land of Hope and Glory (originally a march without any words) has assumed the status of a second National Anthem.
Browse: Elgar
Further Reading: Elgar
Recording of the Week, Daniel Barenboim conducts Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius
14th July 2017
Katherine listens to a blistering new performance of Elgar's religious masterwork, with Andrew Staples, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Thomas Hampson.
Recording of the Week, Steven Isserlis plays cello concertos by Elgar and Walton
19th February 2016
Chris listens to Isserlis's new recording of perhaps the most famous cello concerto ever written.
Popular Works: Elgar
- Ave verum corpus, Op. 2 No. 1 (31)
- Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 (153)
- Chanson de Matin, Op. 15 No. 2 (103)
- Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15 No. 1 (59)
- Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 'In London Town' (81)
- Coronation March, Op. 65 (20)
- Coronation Ode, Op. 44 (7)
- Elegy for strings, Op. 58 (51)
- Enigma Variations, Op. 36 (176)
- Falstaff - Symphonic Study in C minor, Op. 68 (31)
- Froissart Overture, Op. 19 (26)
- Imperial March, Op. 32 (51)
- In the South (Alassio), Op. 50 (48)
- Introduction & Allegro for strings, Op. 47 (95)
- La Capricieuse, Op. 17 (64)
- Land of Hope and Glory (20)
- Light of the World (8)
- Lux aeterna (15)
- Nursery Suite (21)
- Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84 (15)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, Op. 39 No. 1 (195)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 2 in A minor, Op. 39 No. 2 (44)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 3 in C minor, Op. 39 No. 3 (45)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 in G major, Op. 39 No. 4 (92)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 5 in C major, Op. 39 No. 5 (48)
- Pomp and Circumstance March No. 6 (3)
- Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos. 1-5, Op. 39 (40)
- Salut d'amour, Op. 12 (242)
- Scenes (6) from the Bavarian Highlands, Op. 27 (7)
- Sea Pictures, Op. 37 (51)
- Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 (99)
- Severn Suite, Op. 87 (14)
- Sospiri, Op. 70 (82)
- String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83 (15)
- Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 (76)
- Symphony No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 63 (61)
- Symphony No. 3 (8)
- The Apostles, Op. 49 (6)
- The Black Knight, Op. 25 (4)
- The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 (37)
- The Kingdom, Op. 51 (7)
- The Music Makers, Op. 69 (12)
- The Spirit of England, Op. 80 (6)
- The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Op. 1a (23)
- The Wand of Youth Suite No. 2, Op. 1b (26)
- Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (77)
- Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82 (35)
