Biography and Chief Works of  Edward Elgar

1857.

Born near Worcester, son of Roman Catholic organist and owner of music shop, who played the violin in the Three Choirs Festival Orchestra.  Grew up in provincial musical atmosphere.  Played violin, bassoon, organ and piano.

1872.

Entered a solicitor's office, but continued musical activities.  

1879.

Had a few violin lessons in London.  Appointed bandmaster of County Lunatic Asylum, member of Birmingham orchestra, and conductor of Worcester amateur orchestra.  Composed small works.

1889.

Married daughter of major general, who proved to be devoted wife, and bore him one daughter.  Spent two years in London.

1891.

Moved to Malvern, where he wrote a number of choral works, of which the best known are 'From the Bavarian Highlands', and 'Caractacus' (1898).  All rather ordinary, and typical of choral works of the period.

1899.

A great change suddenly came over his work with the appearance of his fine 'Enigma Variations'.

1900.

'The Dream of Gerontius' (poem by Cardinal Newman) performed with little success in Birmingham.  Its new musical idiom and the Roman Catholic theology of its poem prevented its appreciation.  

But Jaeger ("Nimrod" of ‘Enigma' variations), his friend at Novello's, got it performed at the Lower Rhine Festival, and then it became accepted in England, and gave a new standing to the composer. 

1903.

Started a trilogy of oratorios on the subject of the founding of the Christian church, but only wrote 'The Apostles' in 1903, and 'The Kingdom' in 1906.  

Also 'Pomp and Circumstance' marches, the concert overtures 'Cockaigne' and 'In the South'; and 'Introduction and Allegro' for strings.

1904.

Moved to Hereford.  Knighted.  An Elgar festival held in London.

1905.

Visited U.S.A., and made doctor of music at Yale University. (Had previously been given honorary degree of Oxford and Cambridge.) Professor of Music, Birmingham University, 1905-8.  

1908.

First symphony performed in Manchester and London. Performed 100 times within a year.  Now living in London.  Violin concerto, second symphony, and symphonic study 'Falstaff' followed in the next few years.

1911.

Given Order of Merit.

1914-1918.

Produced a number of cantatas and other works connected with the war, which have not lived.

1919.

Violin sonata, string quartet and piano quintet; 'cello concerto, slighter than his other orchestral works.

1920.

Lady Elgar died.  Retired to country.  Composed nothing more of importance. (The slight 'Nursery Suite', composed for the future Queen Elizabeth 11 and her sister, belongs to this period.)

1934.

Died in Worcester.

A late romantic composer who owed much to Berlioz, Mendelssohn and Wagner.  He was not interested in English folk music, but his music is very English, in spite of this.  

Wrote sentimental, popular, and also bombastic, patriotic music, in addition to his great works.  Normally used a large orchestra, and is, at times, very noisy.

Choral works:

 'The Dream of Gerontius'; 'The Apostles'; 'The Kingdom', and many unimportant secular cantatas.  Some popular part songs.

Orchestral works: 

the 'Enigma' variations; the concert overtures 'Cockaigne', and 'In the South'; 'Introduction and Allegro, for strings'; symphonic poem 'Falstaff'; 2 symphonies; violin concerto; 'cello concerto; and many other smaller works, of varying merit.  

Chamber music:

violin sonata; string quartet; piano quintet.