The Cambridge Companion To Elgar (cambridge Companions To 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. 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 examines 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. -- publisher description Divided into three sections, this Companion explores Edward Elgar's early career, his major musical achievements, and the reception, performance and interpretation of his work. Placed in this wider perspective, Elgar emerges as a pivotal figure in the British cultural imagination at a defining historical moment for England's musical identity. This text provides an accessible and up-to-date introduction to the life and music of Edward Elgar. Divided into three sections, the text explores Elgar's early career, his major musical achievements, and the reception, performance and interpretation of his work. Edited By Daniel M. Grimley And Julian Rushton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 243-244) And Index.