The apocryphal history of Gerontius is well known - how Elgar's late completion of the vocal score, the Birmingham choirmaster's untimely death and the failure of his replacement to appreciate the complexity of the work led to an under-rehearsed première which the critics panned. Fortunately, a German choirmaster in the audience recognised the work's considerable merits and arranged a subsequent performance in Dusseldorf which single-handedly rescued the work from oblivion. But how... more

Concerning the war I say nothing - the only thing that wrings my heart & soul is the thought of the horses - oh! my beloved animals - the men - and women can go to hell - but my horses; - I walk round & round this room cursing God for allowing dumb brutes to be tortured - let Him kill his human beings but how CAN HE?
Oh, my horses.

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The Great War of 1914-18 transformed the... more

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Elgar Editions 0 9537082 5 X
Hardback - 480 pages with 93 photographs and illustrations

Inspired by the world première of Anthony Payne's elaboration of Elgar's sketches for a third symphony, Robert Anderson embarked on a voyage of rediscovery of the influences behind each of Elgar's major works. This book is the result.

Edward Elgar's music has an instinctive nobility and chivalry, equally characteristic of the man. His wide reading, interests in the world of art, visits abroad and social contacts made initially through his wife's position, reinforced the... more

Elgar Editions ISBN 0 9548553 0 2 Hardback

A selection of some of the important lectures, now revised as essays, given by Elgar scholars, biographers, historians and musicologists to the Society's London branch since its formation in 1971. Contributors include:

Michael Kennedy, with an incisive comparative analysis of Elgar, Strauss and their wives
Michael Holroyd, with a stimulating assessment of Elgar's close friendship with GBS
Robert Anderson, with a valuable study of... more

Elgar Editions 0 9537082 7 6 Hardback

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Many towns and cities have a music society, formed to promote an annual programme of chamber concerts, but few if any can have as long and illustrious a history as the Malvern Concert Club with its unbroken lOO years of active concert promotion.

It is unique too in having been founded by Sir Edward Elgar with the active participation of his close friend Troyte Griffith who, together with Elgar's daughter Carice, provided the Club with a strong and benevolent leadership from its creation... more

Anyone wandering the country lanes of Worcestershire and Herefordshire in the early 1900s might have come across a bowler-hatted, handle-bar moustached man rhythmically and thoughtfully pedalling his handsome 'Sunbeam' bicycle. This is the story of that cyclist, Edward Elgar, and how some of his greatest music was born in the saddle in sight of the Malvern Hills he loved so much.