Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Elgar’s ‘Falstaff’ was written in 1913 for the Leeds Festival that year. The piece portrays one of Shakespeare’s greatest characters: Sir John Falstaff, the "fat knight" in the plays Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.

Described by Elgar as a ‘Symphonic Study’, it is split into four sections, each depicting several key moments from the plays and different sides to the character of Falstaff. These sections are:
I. Falstaff and Prince Henry
II. Eastcheap – Gadshill – The Boar's Head. Revelry and sleep – Dream Interlude (Poco allegretto)
III. Falstaff's march – The return through Gloucestershire –
Interlude: Gloucestershire. Shallow's orchard (Allegretto) –
The new king – The hurried ride to London
IV. King Henry V's progress – The repudiation of Falstaff, and his death.

When he had nearly finished writing ‘Falstaff’, Elgar told a reporter "I have, I think, enjoyed writing it more than any other music I have composed… I shall say ‘good-bye’ to it with regret, for the hours I have spent on it have brought me a great deal of happiness".

This performance of the piece took place at our home, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Hoddinott Hall in 2009, with conductor Jac van Steen.

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