Probably the most famous English composer (although Purcell and Vaughan-Williams are well up there as well). Elgar’s most famous pieces are the Pomp and Circumstance marches (one of which became the hymn, Land of Hope and Glory), and the Enigma Variations, a set of variations that depict a circle of his friends in a sympathetic and very listener-friendly way. While still in New Zealand, I also had access to a recording of his second symphony, which was a far harder nut to crack. I should probably try and listen to it again.

Elgar wrote just two complete symphonies, but left enough of his plans for a third when he died that Payne, a contemporary English composer has recently been able to reconstruct an approximation of what Elgar intended for his third symphony. In the short time since this was done, this new work has received quite a favourable reception (in Britain at least).

Another famous work of Elgar’s is his cello concerto. Jacqueline du Pré made a famous recording of this, which I can recommend. No doubt said recording features in the recent film Hillary and Jackie.

Readers interested in Elgar will surely enjoy Anthony Anderson’s account of the 1995 Elgar weekend.

             On Wikipedia : Sir Edward William Elgar

 

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