Thread: Elgar Symphonies

I have leared to love these works. Elgar has the orchestra under his little finger - this is apparent if you see the score. He isn't afraid of crazy modulations and makes the music sound so organic and British!

I havn't yet listened to the third symphony - this was devised by someone else from small scetches Elgar left behind after his death. The controversial thing is that Elgar made his friends promise that they would never allow these scetches to be made into a third symphony. Someone screwed up bigtime!

Does anyone have any light to shed on the issiue, and do you like the first two symphonies?

I agree that Elgar's symphonies sound very British, as does most of his music.

But will anyone dare venture to identify what that "British" sound IS?

British sound (in my personal impression)

Pros: Jolly, light, life-enjoying, natural, perfumed, picturesque, emotional but subtle, evocative, sensual, dark when needed but not much.

Cons: Sometimes can be pompous, boisterous, not heavy enough, problem-free, too even.

However, the good sides are far more numerous.

Lisztfreak, I agree and identify with your subjective and qualitative description of the British sound, most musicians would use the same or similar adjectives when describing this style. The problem for us musicians (and University Music students) arises when we are asked to describe in musical terms what this style is.

I avoided this essay topic like the plague while in school, and to this day I avoid making statements about it, because anything I say would be a partial definition that would be applicable to all kinds of other musics as well.

To this day, I have yet to hear or come up with a good musical (technical) description of what Elgar and the British style is made of.

And no offence to anyone who can't define it, because neither can I.

Quite off the topic, but I've discovered it just recently and I would like your opinion.

Listen repeatedly to the Nimrod variation of Elgar's Enigma and to his Elegy for Strings. I think there's a discreet but existing similarity between the thematic material.
Anyway, it seems possible, since it's said that both pieces were written in honour of Elgar's best friend, Mr Jaeger.