Elgar’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
Edward Elgar is one of Britain’s quintessential composers; his Pomp and Circumstance and Enigma Variations are immensely famous and are frequently performed at orchestral concerts.
He also wrote Salut d’Amour as a gift to his wife, Caroline Alice Roberts, and even those unfamiliar with Elgar’s name have likely heard this melody.
To explore the allure of Elgar, we’ve compiled a list of many of his masterpieces this time!
We hope this helps you dive into Elgar’s charm and the stylish, enjoyable world of classical music.
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Elgar’s masterpieces: Popular classical music (71–80)
Sursum cordaEdward Elgar
This is Opus 11, said to have been composed by Elgar in 1894.
Created during the period when he was gradually gaining recognition in the musical world and evolving into a composer who would later represent his country, this piece is rendered in this video by the London Symphony Orchestra with an organ, resounding with a majestic tone.
Please take a listen.
Romance, Op. 62Edward Elgar
Romance, Op.
62 (for bassoon and orchestra), is a piece composed in 1910 for bassoon and orchestra.
There is also an arrangement by Elgar himself for cello and orchestra.
It is said to have been written for Edwin F.
James, principal bassoonist of the London Symphony Orchestra, and the premiere in 1911 was reportedly performed with James as the soloist.
Lasting about five minutes, this gentle, soothing miniature features a calm, lyrical melody.
Christmas GreetingEdward Elgar
This piece was written in 1907 by Elgar—known for works such as Salut d’Amour—during his stay in Rome.
Accompanied by violin and piano, a beautiful high-register chorus sings lyrics penned by Elgar’s wife, Alice.
Although the accompaniment is unconventional, Elgar’s craftsmanship brings it together with great beauty, evoking the feeling of being surrounded by angels.
Comparing it with his other works may help you appreciate the unique character of his music, and can be quite enjoyable.
Please give it a try.
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar’s late masterpiece, the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.
85, is said to have been written while the composer was bedridden.
From the searing cello solo that opens the first movement, you can sense a composer confined by illness and shadowed by the Great War, striving to pour the instrument’s full expressive power into a single work.
It’s a piece to listen to when you want to linger in sentiment or quiet your mind—an invitation to sit with your feelings and listen deeply.
Minuet, Op. 21Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar, a beloved national composer of Britain.
His Minuet, Op.
21 was composed in 1897 as a piano piece for a friend’s son and later arranged for orchestra.
The work overflows with Elgar’s characteristic delicacy and romantic sentiment.
The distinctive musical voice heard in his large-scale masterpieces—such as the Enigma Variations and The Dream of Gerontius—is here presented in a more accessible form, which is part of its appeal.
It’s a piece that lets you experience both Elgar’s multifaceted compositional style and the traditional beauty of British music.
A true gem that every classical music fan should hear.