Classical Music / Composers Datebook: June 2
English Romantic composer and church organist, Edward Elgar (b. June 2, 1857 - d. February 23, 1934), is born in Broadheath. He succeeded his father as church organist in Worcester's St. George's Roman Catholic church. Famous for his Enigma Variations and the magnificent "Pomp and Circumstance", Elgar is often considered as the greatest English-born composer since Henry Purcell, two centuries ago.
The introduction of the microphone in 1925 made far more accurate sound reproduction possible, and Elgar made new recordings of most of his major orchestral works and excerpts from his well-known "The Dream of Gerontius".
The English musical scene was previously dominated by non-English born composers of German origins - Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Wagner. Although Elgar is often regarded as a typically English composer, most of his musical influences were not from England but from continental Europe. He felt himself to be an outsider, not only musically, but socially. In musical circles dominated by academics, he was a self-taught composer. In Protestant Britain, his Roman Catholicism was regarded with suspicion in some quarters and in the class-conscious society of Victorian and Edwardian Britain.
He married the daughter of a senior British army officer. She inspired him both musically and socially, but he struggled to achieve success until his forties, when after a series of moderately successful works his Enigma Variations (1899) became immediately popular in Britain and overseas.
Elgar followed the Enigma Variations with a choral work, The Dream of Gerontius (1900), based on a Roman Catholic text that caused some disquiet in the Anglican Britain establishment. Until today, it has remained a core repertory work in Britain and elsewhere.
In his fifties, Elgar composed his immensely successful symphony and a violin concerto. His second symphony and his cello concerto did not gain immediate public popularity; took years to achieve a regular place in the concert repertory of British orchestras. in later years, his music came to be seen as appealing mainly to British audiences. Although his music remained low for a generation after his death, it began to revive significantly in the 1960s, assisted by the new recordings of his works.
Sir Elgar adhered to the Romantic orchestral style from the influence of German composers like Wagner; he spoke with his distinct English musical voice.
English composer famous for "Pomp and Circumstance"
English Romantic composer and church organist, Edward Elgar (b. June 2, 1857 - d. February 23, 1934), is born in Broadheath. He succeeded his father as church organist in Worcester's St. George's Roman Catholic church. Famous for his Enigma Variations and the magnificent "Pomp and Circumstance", Elgar is often considered as the greatest English-born composer since Henry Purcell, two centuries ago.The introduction of the microphone in 1925 made far more accurate sound reproduction possible, and Elgar made new recordings of most of his major orchestral works and excerpts from his well-known "The Dream of Gerontius".
The English musical scene was previously dominated by non-English born composers of German origins - Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Wagner. Although Elgar is often regarded as a typically English composer, most of his musical influences were not from England but from continental Europe. He felt himself to be an outsider, not only musically, but socially. In musical circles dominated by academics, he was a self-taught composer. In Protestant Britain, his Roman Catholicism was regarded with suspicion in some quarters and in the class-conscious society of Victorian and Edwardian Britain.
He married the daughter of a senior British army officer. She inspired him both musically and socially, but he struggled to achieve success until his forties, when after a series of moderately successful works his Enigma Variations (1899) became immediately popular in Britain and overseas.
Elgar followed the Enigma Variations with a choral work, The Dream of Gerontius (1900), based on a Roman Catholic text that caused some disquiet in the Anglican Britain establishment. Until today, it has remained a core repertory work in Britain and elsewhere.
In his fifties, Elgar composed his immensely successful symphony and a violin concerto. His second symphony and his cello concerto did not gain immediate public popularity; took years to achieve a regular place in the concert repertory of British orchestras. in later years, his music came to be seen as appealing mainly to British audiences. Although his music remained low for a generation after his death, it began to revive significantly in the 1960s, assisted by the new recordings of his works.
Sir Elgar adhered to the Romantic orchestral style from the influence of German composers like Wagner; he spoke with his distinct English musical voice.
Note: One of Elgar's most popular works is his Variations on an
original theme "Enigma". Each variation depicts a close friend of the
composer. Musicologists and scholars continue to debate the meaning of
the "enigma" - whether it be a hidden melody, a former lover, or a
mathematical equation. (In recent times, as a chorister, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius
has had a haunting effect on me.) Elgar's other best known favourite
works also include "Salut d'Amour", "Serenade for Strings" and the
concert overture Cockaigne.
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