Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating,
important, and influential figures in the history of British music. He
rose from humble beginnings and achieved fame with music that to this
day is beloved by audiences in England, and his work has secured an
enduring legacy worldwide. Leading scholars examine the composer's life
in Edward Elgar and His World, presenting a comprehensive portrait of
both the man and the age in which he lived.
Elgar's achievement is remarkably varied and wide-ranging, from
immensely popular works like the famous Pomp and Circumstance March
no. 1--a standard feature of American graduations--to sweeping
masterpieces like his great oratorio The Dream of Gerontius. The
contributors explore Elgar's Catholicism, which put him at odds with the
prejudices of Protestant Britain; his glorification of British
colonialism; his populist tendencies; his inner life as an inspired
autodidact; the aristocratic London drawing rooms where his reputation
was made; the class prejudice with which he contended throughout his
career; and his anguished reaction to World War I. Published in
conjunction with the 2007 Bard Music Festival and the 150th anniversary
of Elgar's birth, this elegant and thought-provoking volume illuminates
the greatness of this accomplished English composer and brings vividly
to life the rich panorama of Victorian and Edwardian Britain.
The contributors are Byron Adams, Leon Botstein, Rachel Cowgill, Sophie
Fuller, Daniel M. Grimley, Nalini Ghuman Gwynne, Deborah Heckert,
Charles Edward McGuire, Matthew Riley, Alison I. Shiel, and Aidan J.
Thomson.
