Well, hi.
I'm gonna talk today about Edward Elgar.
Edward Elgar was an English romantic composer who transformed the reputation of English music since Handel's time (18th century)...
Elgar was born in Worcester, England on the 2nd of June 1857, one of seven children (4th child), the son of William, trained musically and owner of an instrument shop, and Anne, a barmaid...
He was, even at a young age, attracted to music and learned to read sheet music very young on his own. He also lived above a music shop ("Elgar brothers") which was his father's and loved to stay there... This place was very important to him, he studied scores, and learned how to play instruments there...
His family didn't have enough money to pay for lessons so he taught himself the violin and the piano with his musical ear, his perfect pitch by recreating the music he hears... He also went playing the orgue in the Worcester church with his father (where he wrote his organ sonata by the way)...
He hardly made a living when he was old enough to work, he just did small jobs as a violinist or pianist.
He married his 9-year-old younger student Caroline Alice Roberts in 1889...She was the one to encourage him to launch his career...
It was in 1901 that he became an emblem when was played the Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches n.1 (also called: Land of Hope and Glory) which became even more famous after the first war... He obviously composed for the men who died for the country.
He, unfortunately, died on the 23rd of February 1934 when he was 77 years old and leaving 192 pieces behind...
Here are some links to listen to his (incredible) music:
-Salut d'Amour Op12, which he wrote when he was 30 for Carrice, a contraction of his wife's two first names Caroline and Alice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNlhRd1ys3Y this one is from Kerson Leong, a violinist that I really enjoy listening but one this beautiful piece you may think that he puts too much expression so here is another one :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp0A4lbdz4g
-Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNVe_1Eb5dw&t=1721s
-The Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches n.1, Op.39:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZVHaBvH8Y (sorry I didn't find a great enough video of an orchestra so you could see its dynamic movements)
-Enigma Variations, Op.36:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLNLvcBmoqo
Organ sonata in G major, Op.28:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojEg2dBm1R8
Hope you learned something and enjoyed my article,
L.B.M.
Thank you very much Lina, your article is very interesting, I listened to Salut D'amour, it is indeed a beautiful piece and one of my favorites of the ones you suggested. :}
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