Classical

Edward Elgar: An Outsider Triumphs

Things sometimes work out in a strange way. Sir Edward Elgar — composer of the graduation standard “Pomp and Circumstance” — is celebrated as the most English of English composers. The reality, at least in Elgar’s mind, was somewhat different:

Although Elgar is often regarded as a typically English composer, most of his musical influences were not from England but from continental Europe. He felt himself to be an outsider, not only musically, but socially. In musical circles dominated by academics, he was a self-taught composer; in Protestant Britain, his Roman Catholicism was regarded with suspicion in some quarters; and in the class-conscious society of Victorian and Edwardian Britain, he was acutely sensitive about his humble origins even after he achieved recognition. He nevertheless married the daughter of a senior British army officer. She inspired him both musically and socially, but he struggled to achieve success until his forties, when after a series of moderately successful works his Enigma Variations (1899) became immediately popular in Britain and overseas.

The graduation march is in”Land of Hope and Glory,” which is the first of a series of “Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches.” It starts about two minutes into the piece above. It’s funny to see the over-the-top English patriotism on display in light of Elgar’s ambivalence. The video was shot at “The Last Night of the Proms.” The Proms is an  eight-week series of events held annually in England, mostly at the Royal Albert Hall. It’s formal name is The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC.

Elgar was born on June 2, 1857 in Broadheath in the English West Midlands. His father tuned pianos and owned a music shop, which most certainly was much to his advantage. The bio makes reference to the same prejudice as the Wikipedia entry. He learned violin and played organ at a Roman Catholic Church in Worcester.

Elgar’s breakthrough piece was “Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma),” which was published in 1899. The “All About Elgar” profile says that the piece demonstrated that he “had surpassed the other leading English composers of his day, both in technical accomplishment and sheer force of musical personality.”

The first two of the “Pomp and Circumstance Marches” – the first proved to be the most famous – came in 1901. Elgar died in 1934.

Below is “Nimrod,” from the “Enigma Variations.”

Wikipedia entries on the Edward Elgar, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches and The Proms and from All About Elgar were used for this post.

Our New Things: Links to Music Sites and Info on Analog Tech and Vinyl

TDMB has focused on music and musicians. We will continue to do that, of course. We're also expanding our coverage to include vinyl and analog equipment.

More specifically, we'll look at this huge and interesting world from the perspective of music lovers who want a better experience, not committed non-audiophiles.

Check out is some of what we've written so far:

-- Assessing the Value of Vinyl Records: An Overview

-- 7 Quick Tips on Optimizing Your Turntable Cartridge

-- Why Vinyl Records Continue to Thrive

-- Finding the Best Amplifier

-- Finding the Best Phono Preamp

-- What Speakers Do I Need for My Turntable?

Check out more articles on analog equipment and vinyl.

The site also is home to The Internet Music Mapping Project, an effort to list and describe as many music-related sites as possible.

Our Music

--A Tribe Called Quest to The Dick Hyman Trio (In other words, A to H)

--Indigo Girls to Queen Ida (I to Q)

--Radiohead to ZZ Top (R to Z)

Reading Music

The stories of the great bands and musicians are fascinating. Musicians as a group are brilliant, but often troubled. The combination of creativity and drama makes for great reading.

Here are some books to check out.

Duke Ellington brought class, sophistication and style to jazz which, until that point, was proudly unpolished and raucous. His story is profound. The author, Terry Teachout, also wrote "Pops," the acclaimed bio of Louis Armstrong. Click here or on the image.

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What else is there to say? Here is the story behind every song written by The Beatles. Click here or on the image.

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The Grateful Dead don't get enough credit for the profound nature of its lyrics. Many of the band's songs are driven by a deep and literate Americana ("I'm Uncle Sam/That's who I am/Been hidin' out/In a rock and roll band" and "Majordomo Billy Bojangles/Sit down and have a drink with me/What's this about Alabama/Keeps comin' back to me?").

David Dodd's exhaustive study tells the story, song by song. Click here or on the image.

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