Elgar and the Gramophone Company
Donald Macleod and Terry Charman explore how Elgar was moved by scenes of First World War dead arriving at Charing Cross station.
By the end of the Great War, Sir Edward Elgar couldn't compose any music to celebrate peace, disillusioned as he was by the whole period, which Donald Macleod explores in conversation with Terry Charman from the Imperial War Museum.
The Great War dragged on, and by 1916 the government was forced to introduce compulsory national service. Elgar found himself touring the North of England and Scotland, with morale-raising concerts and music including To Women from The Spirit of England. But Elgar was unwell even before the war started, and war events combined with his exhausting work were dragging him down. His wife Alice refused to let Elgar accept the offer of a conducting tour of Russia, due to his ill health. He still managed though to keep working on a theme or two of his, such as his incomplete Piano Concerto, and a jingoistic work Fight for Right.
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Elgar and the Gramophone Company
Duration: 02:25
Music Played
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Edward Elgar
The Spirit of England Op.80 for high voice, chorus and orchestra
Singer: Teresa Cahill. Choir: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus. Performer: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Gibson.- CHANDOS: CHAN6574.
- CHANDOS.
- 9.
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Charles Mott
The Starlight Express - incidental music Op.78 [for Algernon Blackwood's play]
Conductor: Edward Elgar. Orchestra: Unknown.- PEARL GEMM: CD 9951.
- PEARL GEMM.
- 10.
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Edward Elgar
Fight for Right
Singer: Stephen Holloway. Conductor: Barry Collett.- PEARL SHE: CD9635.
- PEARL SHE.
- 17.
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Edward Elgar
Concerto in B minor Op.61 for violin and orchestra
Performer: Pinchas Zukerman. Orchestra: St Louis S O. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- RCA: 82876603892.
- RCA.
- 3.
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Edward Elgar
Great is the Lord (Psalm 48) Op.67 for chorus and organ
Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir. Performer: Adrian Partington. Conductor: Donald Hunt.- Helios: CDH55157.
- Helios.
- 7.
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Edward Elgar
Concerto Op.90 for piano and orchestra
Performer: Margaret Fingerhut. Orchestra: Munich S O. Conductor: Douglas Bostock.- CLASSICO: CLASSCD 334.
- CLASSICO.
- 7.
Broadcasts
- Wed 9 Nov 2011 12:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Wed 9 Nov 2011 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Wed 1 Feb 2012 12:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Wed 1 Feb 2012 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Wed 25 Jun 2014 12:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Wed 25 Jun 2014 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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