Elgar Organ Sonata

[Vox Humana]

I like my Elgar and I've really tried with this piece but it really does nothing for me at all. It's not particularly well written for the instrument, containing little in the way of registration indications...

That's because it isn't organ music. In those dark days of the pre-phonograph one-man-band Elgar no doubt imagined it was, along with everyone else, but, let's be honest, it's really an orchestral piece and sounds way better performed by that medium. I think it's splendid music, but the organ murders it (however virtuosically it's played - and, believe me, I've heard some impressive performances).

[BBMmk2]

It's my view entirely and I suspect that it's included in recital programmes not because it's a good piece but simply that it has Elgar as it's composer. The orchestration of it doesn't really improve things either.

Unless you have heard the brass band transcription by Dr Robert Childs and played by The Cory Band!

[Braunschlag]

That's because it isn't organ music. In those dark days of the pre-phonograph one-man-band Elgar no doubt imagined it was, along with everyone else, but, let's be honest, it's really an orchestral piece and sounds way better performed by that medium. I think it's splendid music, but the organ murders it (however virtuosically it's played - and, believe me, I've heard some impressive performances).

Entirely my point, maybe that didn't come across. It really doesn't belong in the organ loft and simply doesn't work in that version. Maybe I ought to give the orchestration another go.

[Pabmusic]

Ooo... You are unkind. It was a short-notice commission from an unknown composer, for Hugh Blair to play at an event in Worcester Cathedral. And yet it still stands up as a reasonable work - in fact the largest- scale work Elgar had attempted (except perhaps Harmony Music 5).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Which suggests then that it wasn't particularly well written for the organ in the first place.

That seems to be a strange kind of logic.

[Braunschlag]

That seems to be a strange kind of logic.

Not at all. My original post stated that it wasn't particularly well written for the organ. If some listeners then consider the orchestration, in this case of the Adagio, is better then QED:)

[Braunschlag]

Ooo... You are unkind. It was a short-notice commission from an unknown composer, for Hugh Blair to play at an event in Worcester Cathedral. And yet it still stands up as a reasonable work - in fact the largest- scale work Elgar had attempted (except perhaps Harmony Music 5).

Not quite true. Hugh Blair might well have given its first performance but it originated as some sort of commission for a visitation of American organists. There's also good documentation to suggest it didn't have Worcester Cathedral in mind as the instrument either.

[Braunschlag]

If anyone has an hour to spare this article is an interesting account of the circumstances surrounding the Sonata. The first part is for organ fans I suppose but the section about the Sonata is of relevance here.

http://www.pykett.org.uk/elgar's_organ_sonata.htm

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not at all. My original post stated that it wasn't particularly well written for the organ. If some listeners then consider the orchestration, in this case of the Adagio, is better then QED:)

It can be well-written for both, e.g. Pictures at an Exhibition.

[Braunschlag]

It can be well-written for both, e.g. Pictures at an Exhibition.

In that particular case I'd plump for the orchestration over the piano version but don't get me going over that particular piece....

[EdgeleyRob]

If anyone has an hour to spare this article is an interesting account of the circumstances surrounding the Sonata. The first part is for organ fans I suppose but the section about the Sonata is of relevance here.
http://www.pykett.org.uk/elgar's_organ_sonata.htm

Thanks for this

[Vile Consort]

If you think the Sonata is bad, try sitting through the Vesper Voluntaries.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Organ Music volume of the Elgar Complete Edition is by far the slimmest of the entire series to date, and it even includes an imposter: the 2nd Organ Sonata, arranged by Sir Ivor Atkins from the Severn Suite.

[Braunschlag]

If you think the Sonata is bad, try sitting through the Vesper Voluntaries.

I did once, during a recital by someone who was capable of far greater things.
Tedious, boring and pointless, it made The Village Organist albums seem positively scintillating.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I did once, during a recital by someone who was capable of far greater things.
Tedious, boring and pointless, it made The Village Organist albums seem positively scintillating.

Elgar composed them for individual insertion in services.