Edward Elgar

Edward William Elgar (June 2, 1857 – February 23, 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius, chamber music and songs. He was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924.

Elgar was born in the small village of Lower Broadheath, outside Worcester, England, on June 2, 1857. His father, William Henry Elgar (1821–1906), was raised in Dover and had been apprenticed to a London music publisher. In 1841 William moved to Worcester, where he worked as a piano tuner and set up a shop selling sheet music and musical instruments. In 1848 he married Ann Greening (1822–1902), daughter of a farm worker. Edward was the fourth of their seven children.

Elgar showed an early aptitude for music, and he began studying the violin at the age of six. He also learned to play the piano, cello, and organ. In 1870, Elgar entered the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Hubert Parry and orchestration with William Sterndale Bennett.

After graduating from the Royal College of Music in 1875, Elgar returned to Worcester and began a career as a freelance musician. He played the violin in local orchestras, conducted choral societies, and gave piano recitals. He also began composing, and his first major work, the Serenade for Strings in E minor, was premiered in 1879.

In 1889, Elgar married Caroline Alice Roberts, a published novelist and poet. The couple had no children.

Elgar's career as a composer took off in the 1890s. In 1899, his Enigma Variations were premiered to great acclaim. The work is a set of thirteen variations on an original theme, and each variation is named after a different person in Elgar's life. The Enigma Variations established Elgar as one of the leading composers of his time.

In the early 20th century, Elgar composed a number of major works, including the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the Dream of Gerontius, and two symphonies. He was knighted in 1904, and he was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924.

Elgar continued to compose until his death in 1934. He is buried in the Worcester Cathedral.

Elgar's music is characterized by its Englishness, its emotional depth, and its craftsmanship. He was a master of melody and harmony, and his orchestration is often described as being "painterly."

Elgar's music is still performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. He is considered one of the most important composers of the late Romantic era.