Elgar (1857-1934)

[ahinton]

A binge of Ronald?

Ah, now you're wandering dangerously close to the composer comparatives thing that was initiated years ago by (IIRC) Graham Johnson and which began with Coplandish and included Rubbish, Payneful and others that I can no longer remember...

[LMcD]

I've just discovered that Classic FM is at this moment bringing its listeners the 'World Radio Premiere' - i.e. the first broadcast in full - of Sheku Kanneh-Mason's recording of the Cello Concerto with (Sir) Simon Rattle. Perhaps it will feature on their catch-up service in the next few days.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I hope its in order to mention an imminent performance of the rarely performed early work of Elgar’s “The Black Knight” and also, never recorded and unperformed since 1920, Parry’s De Profundis (described by Vaughan Williams as his finest work).

Further details here (#3977):

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?5670-What-British-commonwealth-or-similar-neglected-composer-are-you-listening-to&p=874545#post874545

[DracoM]

I always wonder how Elgar wold have dealt with an abdication or the 2nd WW...!

[seabright]

Does anyone know of any performance, broadcast or recording of the "Prelude and Angel's Farewell" in Elgar's purely orchestral arrangement? ... It was undoubtedly inspired by Wagner's non-vocal version of the "Prelude and Liebestod" ... Here is the link to the full score. The mezzo part is marked "ad lib" on the title page but her although part is printed in the finale, it is also covered in the orchestra by various instruments playing "the small notes when performed without the solo voice." As the "Prelude and Liebestod" is invariably performed without a solo voice, I think Elgar's original intentions should also be followed, so as to make a new addition to the orchestral concert repertoire ...

http://en.instr.scorser.com/D/637922.html

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Does anyone know of any performance, broadcast or recording of the "Prelude and Angel's Farewell" in Elgar's purely orchestral arrangement? ... It was undoubtedly inspired by Wagner's non-vocal version of the "Prelude and Liebestod" ... Here is the link to the full score. The mezzo part is marked "ad lib" on the title page but her although part is printed in the finale, it is also covered in the orchestra by various instruments playing "the small notes when performed without the solo voice." As the "Prelude and Liebestod" is invariably performed without a solo voice, I think Elgar's original intentions should also be followed, so as to make a new addition to the orchestral concert repertoire ...

Surprisingly, the only recording I can locate is one conducted by the composer himself in 1917. It's heavily cut too.

[LMcD]

Now that the reconstructed Piano Concerto and 3rd symphony seem to have disappeared from the musical map, is it safe to assume that there will be no further such projects?

[Serial_Apologist]

Now that the reconstructed Piano Concerto and 3rd symphony seem to have disappeared from the musical map, is it safe to assume that there will be no further such projects?

Just to flag up that I've re-opened the Elgar COTW for this week's re-upholstering effort, though I'm not sure how much of either of the above works will be addressed.

[smittims]

I listened to today's programme; I don't know if this week's series is a repeat. Organ fanciers might like to listen to the extract from the Variations as the organ is particularly prominent in the finale in this performance by the Liverpool Phil under Vasily Petrenko.

[LMcD]

I listened to today's programme; I don't know if this week's series is a repeat. Organ fanciers might like to listen to the extract from the Variations as the organ is particularly prominent in the finale in this performance by the Liverpool Phil under Vasily Petrenko.

Parts of today's episode certainly sounded familiar.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Parts of today's episode certainly sounded familiar.

On this page for today's programme:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001408w

It gives a previous broadcast date of Monday 31 Jan 2022

[Serial_Apologist]

On this page for today's programme:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001408w

It gives a previous broadcast date of Monday 31 Jan 2022

Indeed so - there was no (R) under today's entry in RT so, having missed last year's programmes for some strange reason, I assumed this to be all new. Apologies to all!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Now that the reconstructed Piano Concerto and 3rd symphony seem to have disappeared from the musical map, is it safe to assume that there will be no further such projects?

Those two “completions” are of very different qualities in my opinion. The Payne elaboration of the Third Symphony and Pomp and Circumstance March no. 6 are very fine indeed and worthy of their place in the Elgarian canon. The Walker realisation of the Piano Concerto fails to convince me, though I couldn’t say whether this is because of the quality of the original material, or by Mr Walker’s treatment of it.

The potential Elgar work that I regret never materialising is The Last Judgement, which was intended as the last part of the Apostle/Kingdom project.

[pastoralguy]

Those two “completions” are of very different qualities in my opinion. The Payne elaboration of the Third Symphony and Pomp and Circumstance March no. 6 are very fine indeed and worthy of their place in the Elgarian canon. The Walker realisation of the Piano Concerto fails to convince me, though I couldn’t say whether this is because of the quality of the original material, or by Mr Walker’s treatment of it.

The potential Elgar work that I regret never materialising is The Last Judgement, which was intended as the last part of the Apostle/Kingdom project.

I played in the Scottish premiere of the Third Symphony and my overriding impression was that it was almost like a ‘simplified’ version of an Elgar Symphony. There are some great moments to be sure but, imvho, started very strongly and then lost focus. Having said that, it was still very moving to be playing this music to an audience, both seen and unseen, for whom this music was new!

[LMcD]

I played in the Scottish premiere of the Third Symphony and my overriding impression was that it was almost like a ‘simplified’ version of an Elgar Symphony. There are some great moments to be sure but, imvho, started very strongly and then lost focus. Having said that, it was still very moving to be playing this music to an audience, both seen and unseen, for whom this music was new!

I seem to recall reading somewhere - possibly on this Forum - a prediction that the Third Symphony would be rarely heard again, if at all, in public once the initial flurry of performances was over.