The Cambridge Companion to Elgar

This book presents an accessible introduction to the life and music of Edward Elgar.

Daniel M. Grimley (Edited by), Julian Rushton (Edited by)

9780521533638, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 January 2005

278 pages, 35 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.5 cm, 0.45 kg

'The Cambridge volume, wide-ranging and generally excellent, maintains the high standards of their 'Companion' series. Robin Holloway's typically incisive and entertaining piece on the early choral works should inspire wider appreciation of the masterly qualities of King Olaf, The Black Knight, etc. … strongly recommended.' Classical Music

Edward Elgar occupies a pivotal place in the British cultural imagination. His music has been heard as emblematic of Empire and the English landscape. The recent success of Anthony Payne's elaboration of the sketches for Elgar's Third Symphony has prompted a critical revaluation of his music. This Companion provides an accessible and vivid account of Elgar's work in its historical and cultural context. Established authorities on British music and scholars new in the field examine Elgar's music from a range of critical perspectives, including nationalism, post-colonialism, decadence, reception and musical influences. There are also chapters on interpretation, including his own (Elgar was the first major composer to commit a representative quantity of his own work to record), and on Elgar's relationships with the BBC and with his publishers. The book includes much new material, drawing on original research, as well as providing a comprehensive introduction to Elgar's major musical achievements.

Notes on contributors
Acknowledgements
Bibliographical abbreviations
Chronology
List of volumes in the Elgar Complete Edition (Elgar Society Edition)
1. Introduction Daniel M. Grimley and Julian Rushton
2. Elgar and his British contemporaries Jeremy Dibble
3. Elgar and his publishers Robert Anderson
4. Magic by mosaic: some aspects of Elgar's compositional methods Christopher Kent
5. Elgar's musical language: the shorter instrumental works Diana McVeagh
6. The early choral works Robin Holloway
7. Elgar's later oratorios: Roman Catholicism, decadence and the Wagnerian dialectic of shame and grace Byron Adams
8. Roman Catholicism and being musically English: Elgar's church and organ music John Butt
9. 'A smiling with a sigh': the chamber music and works for strings Daniel M. Grimley
10. In search of the symphony: orchestral music to 1908 Julian Rushton
11. Orchestral music from 1908–34 Christopher Mark
12. Elgar's unwumbling: the theatre music J. P. E. Harper-Scott
13. Elgar and recording Timothy Day
14. Elgar and the BBC Jenny Doctor
15. Elgar's German critics Aidan Thomson
16. Functional music: imperialism, the Great War, and Elgar as popular composer Charles Edward McGuire
Notes
Select bibliograpy
Index.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], Western "classical" music [AVGC], Music [AV]