Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar was born on the 2nd of June 1857 in Lower Broadheath, a small village near Worcester. His father William Henry Elgar worked as a piano tuner and ran a shop selling sheet music and instruments. The family home was a brick cottage with a large front garden that would later become known as The Firs. Edward was the fourth of seven children born to William and Ann Greening. Ann had converted to Roman Catholicism shortly before his birth, which caused disapproval from her husband who remained Protestant. By age eight, young Edward took piano and violin lessons while accompanying his father on visits to grand houses throughout Worcestershire. He displayed his skill to important local figures during these outings. At ten years old, he wrote music for a play performed by the Elgar children. Forty years later, he rearranged this early work into suites titled The Wand of Youth. Until fifteen, he received general education at Littleton House school near Worcester. His only formal musical training beyond basic lessons came from advanced violin studies with Adolf Pollitzer during brief trips to London in 1877 and 1878. He taught himself organ playing through manuals borrowed from the cathedral library. Hubert Parry's articles in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians provided crucial guidance. When leaving school in 1872, he did not attend Leipzig Conservatory due to financial constraints. Instead, he became a clerk in a solicitor's office. This career choice proved unsatisfying, so he turned to music and literature for fulfillment. Around this time, he made his first public appearances as both violinist and organist.
At forty-two years old, Edward Elgar produced the Enigma Variations which premiered in London under Hans Richter's baton in 1899. The work consisted of fourteen variations on an original theme, each labeled with nicknames representing particular friends. Purely musical considerations led him to omit variations depicting Arthur Sullivan and Hubert Parry despite their styles influencing his thinking. The large-scale composition received general acclaim for its originality, charm, and craftsmanship. It established Elgar as the pre-eminent British composer of his generation. The word "Enigma" appears over the first six bars of music, referring to another overarching theme that runs through the entire set but remains unidentified by the composer himself. Later commentators observed that while today regarded as characteristically English, the orchestral music shares much with Central European traditions typified by Richard Strauss. The German press enthusiastically reviewed the piece when performed in Düsseldorf during 1901 and 1902. Julius Buths conducted the European premiere there. The Cologne Gazette declared it contained beauties of imperishable value. The Düsseldorfer Volksblatt called it a memorable and epoch-making performance since Liszt's time. Performances followed in Vienna, Paris, and New York. The Dream of Gerontius came next as his major choral work for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival of 1900. Cardinal John Henry Newman's poem about death and redemption moved Elgar deeply as a Roman Catholic. Critics recognized mastery despite poor chorus preparation at the premiere. The work became equally admired in Britain though some Anglican establishment members disagreed. Charles Villiers Stanford complained it smelled of incense. The dean of Gloucester banned performances until 1901, while Worcester required expurgations before allowing any showing.
The First Symphony premiered in 1908 and achieved national and international triumph within weeks. It received performances in New York under Walter Damrosch, Vienna under Ferdinand Löwe, St Petersburg under Alexander Siloti, and Leipzig under Arthur Nikisch. Additional shows occurred in Rome, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and fifteen British towns. Within just over a year, the symphony garnered one hundred performances across Britain, America, and continental Europe. Fritz Kreisler commissioned the Violin Concerto written during summer 1910 with occasional help from W.H. Reed, leader of the London Symphony Orchestra. Reed later documented many details of Elgar's composition methods in his biography. The concert proved a complete triumph according to Reed's recollection. So great was its impact that Eugène Ysaïe spent considerable time studying the work with Elgar. Contractual difficulties prevented Ysaïe from performing it in London. The Violin Concerto marked Elgar's last popular triumph. His Second Symphony followed in 1910 but disappointed him at its premiere unlike the earlier successes. It ended quietly rather than in orchestral splendour. Audience members sat like stuffed pigs according to Reed's account. Despite twenty-seven performances within three years, it lacked the international furore of the First Symphony. The Cello Concerto in E minor had a disastrous premiere at the opening concert of the LSO's 1919-20 season in October 1919. Albert Coates conducted the rest of the programme while overrunning rehearsal time. Lady Elgar described Coates as brutal and ill-mannered. Ernest Newman wrote that never before had so great an orchestra made such a lamentable exhibition. Felix Salmond played the solo part despite inadequate preparation. Unlike the First Symphony which received one hundred performances quickly, the Cello Concerto did not get another London performance for more than a year.
Alice Elgar died of lung cancer on the 7th of April 1920 at age seventy-two after a short illness. Edward was devastated by losing his wife who had acted as his business manager, social secretary, and perceptive musical critic throughout their marriage. With no public demand for new works and deprived of her constant support, he allowed himself to be deflected from composition. His daughter later noted he inherited from his father a reluctance to settle down to work but could spend hours on unnecessary undertakings. This trait became stronger after Alice's death. For much of the remaining life, Elgar indulged hobbies including amateur chemistry where he sometimes used a laboratory in his back garden. He patented the "Elgar Sulphuretted Hydrogen Apparatus" in 1908. Football supported Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., for whom he composed an anthem called "He Banged the Leather for Goal." In later years, he frequently attended horseraces. Malcolm Sargent and Yehudi Menuhin recalled rehearsals where Elgar satisfied himself all was well then departed for races. As elderly widower, he enjoyed being driven countryside by chauffeur. Between November and December 1923, he took voyage to Brazil journeying up Amazon River to Manaus impressed by Teatro Amazonas opera house. Almost nothing recorded about activities or events encountered during trip gave novelist James Hamilton-Paterson considerable latitude writing Gerontius fictional account. After selling Hampstead house, he lived briefly flat in St James's heart London before moving back Worcestershire village Kempsey from 1923 to 1927.
BBC organized festival celebrating Elgar's seventy-fifth birthday in 1932. He flew Paris 1933 conduct Violin Concerto for Menuhin visiting fellow composer Frederick Delius house Grez-sur-Loing. Sought younger musicians Adrian Boult, Malcolm Sargent, John Barbirolli championed music out fashion. Began work opera The Spanish Lady accepted commission BBC compose Third Symphony final illness prevented completion. Fretted unfinished works asked Reed ensure nobody tinker sketches attempt symphony completion. At other times said if cannot complete Third Symphony somebody will complete write better one. Anthony Payne elaborated Third Symphony sketches into complete score 1997. Percy M. Young co-operation BBC Elgar daughter Carice produced version The Spanish Lady issued CD. Inoperable colorectal cancer discovered operation the 8th of October 1933 told consulting doctor Arthur Thomson believed nothing but complete oblivion died the 23rd of February 1934 age seventy-six buried next wife St Wulstan's Roman Catholic Church Little Malvern. After Cello Concerto completed no more large-scale works made arrangements Bach Handel Chopin distinctively Elgarian orchestration turned youthful notebooks use Nursery Suite 1931. Other compositions period held place regular repertory. Most twentieth century generally agreed creative impulse ceased after wife death. Anthony Payne elaboration Third Symphony sketches led reconsideration supposition. Opening symphony complete full score pages along others show orchestration changed markedly richness pre-war work
Gramophone described opening thrilling unforgettably gaunt first public performance given BBC Symphony Orchestra Andrew Davis London the 15th of February 1998. Payne subsequently produced performing version sixth Pomp and Circumstance March premiered Proms August 2006. Sketches piano concerto dating 1913 elaborated composer Robert Walker first performed August 1997 pianist David Owen Norris revised extensively.
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Common questions
When and where was Edward Elgar born?
Edward Elgar was born on the 2nd of June 1857 in Lower Broadheath, a small village near Worcester. His family home was a brick cottage with a large front garden that later became known as The Firs.
What major orchestral works did Edward Elgar compose after his wife Alice died?
After Alice Elgar died of lung cancer on the 7th of April 1920, Edward Elgar composed no more large-scale works until he began work on the Third Symphony which remained unfinished due to his final illness. He also arranged youthful notebooks into the Nursery Suite in 1931 and made arrangements for Bach, Handel, and Chopin with distinctively Elgarian orchestration.
How old was Edward Elgar when he produced the Enigma Variations?
Edward Elgar produced the Enigma Variations at forty-two years old which premiered in London under Hans Richter's baton in 1899. The work consisted of fourteen variations on an original theme each labeled with nicknames representing particular friends.
Why did Edward Elgar stop composing after 1920?
Edward Elgar stopped composing after 1920 because his wife Alice died of lung cancer on the 7th of April 1920 leaving him without her support as business manager and musical critic. With no public demand for new works he allowed himself to be deflected from composition and indulged hobbies like amateur chemistry instead.
When did Edward Elgar die and where is he buried?
Edward Elgar died on the 23rd of February 1934 at age seventy-six following an operation for inoperable colorectal cancer discovered on the 8th of October 1933. He is buried next to his wife in St Wulstan's Roman Catholic Church Little Malvern.