Edward Elgar

Late Romantic · 1857–1934

Edward Elgar was largely self-taught. The son of a music shop owner near Worcester, England, he spent his first four decades as a jobbing provincial musician: teaching violin, conducting local ensembles, and composing in the hours left over, convinced the London establishment would never take him seriously.

Then in 1899, in his forties, he produced the Enigma Variations, a set of orchestral portraits of his wife and friends, each variation sketching one person's character. It made him famous almost overnight, and within a few years he was England's leading composer, eventually knighted. After the First World War his mood darkened; the Cello Concerto of 1919, wistful and autumnal, was his last major orchestral statement.

Start with the Enigma Variations, especially the ninth, called Nimrod, then the Cello Concerto in E minor.

174 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

2 Pieces, op. 13
2 Pieces, op. 15
3 Pieces, op. 4
5 Intermezzi, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and basson
6 Promenades, for wind quintet
Adagio Cantabile, 'Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup', for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Allegretto on G–E–D–G–E
Alphonsa Gavotte, for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, clarinet and bassoon
Andante and Allegro, for oboe, violin, viola, and cello
Andante con variazione, 'Evesham Andante', for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Berceuse - Petite reine, for violin and piano
Duett, for trombone and double bass
Etude caprice
Etudes caracteristiques, for solo violin, op. 24
Fugue in D minor, for violin and oboe
Gavotte, op. 13, no. 3
Gigue, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Harmony Music no. 1, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Harmony Music no. 2, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Harmony Music no. 3, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Harmony Music no. 4, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, "The Farm Yard"
Harmony Music no. 5, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, "The Mission"
La Capricieuse, op. 17
Mazurka, for violin and piano
Menuetto in B flat major, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 84
Polonaise in D minor
Reminiscences
Romance for Violin and Piano in C minor, op. 1
Salut d'amour, op. 12
Sarabande, largo for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Soliloquy, for oboe and piano
String Quartet in E minor, op. 83
Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Position, op. 22
Violin Sonata in E minor, op. 82

Keyboard

'?', for piano
8 Vesper Voluntaries, for organ, op. 14
Adieu
Cantique, for organ, orchestra, or piano, op. 3
Chantant
Concert Allegro, op. 46
Echo's Dance
Griffinesque
In Smyrna
Loughborough Memorial Chime, for carillon
May Song
Minuet, op. 21
Organ Sonata no. 1 in G major, op. 28
Pastourelle
Salut d'amour, op. 12
Serenade
Skizze

Orchestral

Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85
Cockaign Overture, op. 40
Enigma Variations, op. 36
Symphony no. 1 in A flat major, op. 55
Violin Concerto in B minor, op. 61
3 Bavarian Dances, op. 27b
3 Characteristic Pieces, op. 10
5 Polkas
A Singing Quadrille
Beau Brummel, incidental music
Carissima, for small orchestra
Civic Fanfare, for orchestra and organ
Coronation March, op. 65
Die junge Kokette
Dream Children, for small orchestra, op. 43
Elegy, op. 58
Falstaff, symphonic study in C minor, op. 68
Froissart, concert overture, op. 19
Grania and Diarmid, incidental music, op. 42
Imperial March, op. 32
In the South, concert overture, op. 50, "Alassio"
Introduction and Allegro, for string quartet and string orchestra, op. 47
King Arthur, incidental music
L'Assomoir
La Brunette
Le drapeau belge, for reciter and orchestra, op. 79
Menuetto, for orchestra
Military Marches, op. 39, "Pomp and Circumstance"
Nursery Suite
Paris
Polonia, symphonic prelude, op. 76
Romance, for bassoon and orchestra, op. 62
Rosemary, "That's for remembrance. Douce pensée"
Serenade for Strings in E minor, op. 20
Severn Suite, for brass band, op. 87
Sevillana, piano, or military band, op. 7
Sospiri, for strings, harp, and organ, op. 70
Sursum Corda, for brass, organ, strings and 2 timpani in B flat major, op. 11
Symphony no. 2 in E flat major, op. 63
Symphony no. 3 Completed by Anthony Payne
Sérénade lyrique, for small orchestra
The British Empire March
The Crown of India
The Spanish Lady, for string orchestra, op. 89
The Starlight Express, incidental music, op. 78
The Starlight Express, suite from the incidental music
The Valentine
Une voix dans le désert, for reciter and orchestra, op. 77
Wand of Youth, Suite no. 1, op. 1a
Wand of Youth, Suite no. 2, op. 1b

Stage

Carillon, for speaker and orchestra, op. 75
The Crown of India, imperial masque for alto, bass, chorus and orchestra, op. 66
The Sanguine Fan, op. 81 Ballet

Vocal

The Dream of Gerontius, op. 38 Oratorio
2 Partsongs, for chorus, 2 violins and piano, op. 26
2 Songs, op. 41
2 Songs, op. 71
2 Songs, op. 73
3 Partsongs, op. 18
3 Songs, op. 16
3 Songs from The Starlight Express
4 Partsongs, op. 53
Arabian Serenade
As I laye a-thinkynge
A Soldier's Song, "A War Song"
A Song of Autumn
Ave Maria gratia plena, op. 2 no. 2 Motet
Ave maris stella, op. 2, no. 3 Motet
Ave verum, op. 2, no. 1 Motet
Big Steamers, for unison chorus and piano
Caractacus, op. 35 Cantata
Come, gentle night
Coronation Ode, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. 44, "Land of Hope and Glory"
Death on the Hills, op. 72
Dry those Fair, those Crystal Eyes
Ecce sacerdos magnus, gradual for chorus and orchestra
Evening Scene
Fear not, O Land, harvest anthem for chorus and organ
From the Greek Anthology, 5 partsongs for male chorus, op. 45
Give unto the Lord, anthem for chorus, organ and orchestra ad lib, op. 74
Go, Song of Mine, partsong for double chorus, op. 57
Goodmorrow, for chorus
Great is the Lord, anthem for chorus and organ, op. 67
How Calmly the Evening
In Moonlight, "Canto popolare"
I Sing the birth, carol for chorus
Is she not passing fair?
It isnae me
Like to the Damask Rose
Lux Christi, op. 29
O Hearken Thou, offertory for chorus, organ and orchestra, op. 64
O Salutaris Hostia III, for chorus and organ
O Salutaris Hostia II in E flat major, for chorus and organ
O Salutaris Hostia I in F major, for chorus and organ
Pageant of Empire Song cycle
Pleading, op. 48, no. 1
Queen Alexandra Memorial Ode, for chorus and military band, "So many true princesses who have gone"
Queen Mary's Song
Roundel: The little eyes that never knew light
Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands, 6 songs for chorus and piano, op. 27a
Scenes from The Saga of King Olaf, op. 30 Cantata
Sea Pictures, for alto, organ, and orchestra, op. 37 Song cycle
Song Cycle, for voice and orchestra, op. 59
Tantum Ergo, for chorus and organ
Te Deum and Benedictus, for chorus, orchestra and organ, op. 34
The Apostles, op. 49 Oratorio
The Black Knight, op. 25 Cantata
The Crown of India, imperial masque in 2 tableaux for alto, bass, chorus and orchestra, op. 66
The Fringes of the Fleet, for baritone solo, 3 baritones and orchestra
The Kingdom, op. 51 Oratorio
The Music Makers, ode for alto, chorus, organ, and orchestra, op. 69
The Pipes of Pan
The Poet's Life
The Prince of Sleep
The Spirit of England, 3 songs for soprano/tenor, chorus and orchestra, op. 80
The Wanderer
The Wind at Dawn
They are at rest, anthem for chorus
To her, beneath whose steadfast star, for chorus
Weary Wind of the West
With Proud Thanksgiving, for chorus, orchestra, and organ
XTC

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