This deep and meaningful movement is, I feel, where Elgar shows us what he believes to be the true journey through nature to god in musical terms. This is intensely personal, and occupies a different landscape from the other movements although linked closely to them by thematic artifice. If I could take only one symphonic adagio to "that desert island" then it would be this one.
The first time I heard this symphony was last summer, when I went to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform it (conducted by Sir Andrew Davis). Once I got home that night, I wanted to hear this very movement.
Like most people, I only knew Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" Marches and "Enigma Variations". I am happy to have taken the time to listen to another one of his works besides these.
I just attended a performance in Manchester (where the piece was premiered in 1908) which began with Elgar's biographer the 85 year old Michaek Kennedy being awarded the medal of the Elgar Society for his service to the composers music. He thanked the Halle & Mark Elder for their fabulous performances of the First Symphony, past and present..
Needless to say, the orchestra played their hearts out to return this great critic's admiration and thanks. What a performance it was! As Sir Mark said afterwards, learning forward to the front row of the stalls, "not bad, eh?"
Elgar simply demolishes the myth once upon a time propagated by the Continentals that England was "Das Land Ohne Muzik" ...such beautiful music can only come from a godly genius. By the way good folks of Europe, the Dutch maestro, Kees Bakels is conducting this symphony with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra at the Dewan Fil in Kuala Lumpur on the 29 & 30 Jan, 2011..so book yr flight now! sd goh (malaysia)
@llyranor Yes, that's my favourite section as well, so wonderful! :) I especially love it around 20 seconds after the timing you mention when the cellos take up the theme, beautiful textures! :) If only people would listen to this (the real Elgar) instead of the Pomp and Circumstance march! ;)
@elgarian497 well posted, Both his symphonies are simply magnificent not a bad note in them, these works along with Gerontius, Sospiri, chamber music are as you say the real man, like Lizst he is dogged though by his more populist march like tunes, as one listens more to him you realize he is a giant of Music
Bleddy gorgeous symphonies, both of 'em. I've got outstanding versions of em on CD conducted by Vernon Handley. The final movement that follows this one where Elgar resurrects the opening theme, with knobs on, is very thrilling. I love how he uses brass instruments. His music embodies a certain ideal vision of Englishness for me.
It would be nice to see Elgar's Third Symphony, as completed by Anthony Payne represented on Youtube. That one is also a corker.
@clarenceclutterbuck Yes, I agree, both beautiful symphonies! My favourite pieces ever. no.3 is a very interesting piece. It is fantastically put together by Anthony Payne and I really do love the piece, however, I don't think it is how Elgar would have intended this symphony to be. As a conductor said to Anthony Payne on a look at the score: "since when did Elgar finish a symphony with a gong stroke?!"
@elgarian497 But as Payne explains in a book (Elgar: An Anniversary Portrait; multiple authors), Elgar was a great composer, and since when have great composers avoided to do unexpected things? We cannot know whether Elgar would have ended the symphony with a gong stroke or not. Perhaps he would have included a cannon bang.
@charliesmillton Yes, I agree. It was actually my least favourite movement of the symphony at first, and now it is my favourite! :) It is such a beautiful piece. It did take me four listenings to fully appreciate it though!
@ThaSchwab Hello, yes I shall be uploading the finale as well, probably today. You saw it live, great! The first time I heard this symphony was live and it was Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. The performers here are the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Georg Solti.
Ah yes, you said that in another video. I didn't see them live, but rather I heard them. The performance is on tomorrow, and if you're in the US, I could probably decipher when it'd be on in your area.
First 2 notes are exactly like the beginning of the Nimrod section of Enigma Variations. Wonderful expressive Adagio!
wondermusic63 5 months ago
@8:50 onwards gives me goosebumps every time
AlfieStroudR 9 months ago
it's wonderful, i like this adagio
777wallaby777 10 months ago
This deep and meaningful movement is, I feel, where Elgar shows us what he believes to be the true journey through nature to god in musical terms. This is intensely personal, and occupies a different landscape from the other movements although linked closely to them by thematic artifice. If I could take only one symphonic adagio to "that desert island" then it would be this one.
GourouxPete 1 year ago
@GourouxPete I would agree, this would probably be my favourite symphonic adagio, with the lento from Elgar 2 coming close!
elgarian497 11 months ago
The first time I heard this symphony was last summer, when I went to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform it (conducted by Sir Andrew Davis). Once I got home that night, I wanted to hear this very movement.
Like most people, I only knew Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" Marches and "Enigma Variations". I am happy to have taken the time to listen to another one of his works besides these.
DeclanVB84 1 year ago
I just attended a performance in Manchester (where the piece was premiered in 1908) which began with Elgar's biographer the 85 year old Michaek Kennedy being awarded the medal of the Elgar Society for his service to the composers music. He thanked the Halle & Mark Elder for their fabulous performances of the First Symphony, past and present..
smudgepots 1 year ago
Needless to say, the orchestra played their hearts out to return this great critic's admiration and thanks. What a performance it was! As Sir Mark said afterwards, learning forward to the front row of the stalls, "not bad, eh?"
smudgepots 1 year ago
Elgar simply demolishes the myth once upon a time propagated by the Continentals that England was "Das Land Ohne Muzik" ...such beautiful music can only come from a godly genius. By the way good folks of Europe, the Dutch maestro, Kees Bakels is conducting this symphony with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra at the Dewan Fil in Kuala Lumpur on the 29 & 30 Jan, 2011..so book yr flight now! sd goh (malaysia)
301250 1 year ago
Really beautiful. 2:58, just wow.
llyranor 1 year ago
@llyranor Yes, that's my favourite section as well, so wonderful! :) I especially love it around 20 seconds after the timing you mention when the cellos take up the theme, beautiful textures! :) If only people would listen to this (the real Elgar) instead of the Pomp and Circumstance march! ;)
elgarian497 1 year ago
@elgarian497 well posted, Both his symphonies are simply magnificent not a bad note in them, these works along with Gerontius, Sospiri, chamber music are as you say the real man, like Lizst he is dogged though by his more populist march like tunes, as one listens more to him you realize he is a giant of Music
thatwilldonicely 1 year ago
The Elgar 1 Adagio turns its explosive passion inward, much like late Brahms.
mctous1 1 year ago
Bleddy gorgeous symphonies, both of 'em. I've got outstanding versions of em on CD conducted by Vernon Handley. The final movement that follows this one where Elgar resurrects the opening theme, with knobs on, is very thrilling. I love how he uses brass instruments. His music embodies a certain ideal vision of Englishness for me.
It would be nice to see Elgar's Third Symphony, as completed by Anthony Payne represented on Youtube. That one is also a corker.
clarenceclutterbuck 1 year ago
@clarenceclutterbuck Yes, I agree, both beautiful symphonies! My favourite pieces ever. no.3 is a very interesting piece. It is fantastically put together by Anthony Payne and I really do love the piece, however, I don't think it is how Elgar would have intended this symphony to be. As a conductor said to Anthony Payne on a look at the score: "since when did Elgar finish a symphony with a gong stroke?!"
I will upload the "third" symphony soon!
elgarian497 1 year ago
@elgarian497 But as Payne explains in a book (Elgar: An Anniversary Portrait; multiple authors), Elgar was a great composer, and since when have great composers avoided to do unexpected things? We cannot know whether Elgar would have ended the symphony with a gong stroke or not. Perhaps he would have included a cannon bang.
Astron278 8 months ago
@charliesmillton Yes, I agree. It was actually my least favourite movement of the symphony at first, and now it is my favourite! :) It is such a beautiful piece. It did take me four listenings to fully appreciate it though!
elgarian497 1 year ago
Wonderful movement, it's awesome :)
neuIlaryRheinKlange 1 year ago
I take it you'll be uploading the finale, too? What performer is this?
I recently heard a definitive version, though live, by the Milwaukee Symphony under Edo de Waart.
ThaSchwab 1 year ago
@ThaSchwab Hello, yes I shall be uploading the finale as well, probably today. You saw it live, great! The first time I heard this symphony was live and it was Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. The performers here are the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Georg Solti.
elgarian497 1 year ago
@elgarian497
Ah yes, you said that in another video. I didn't see them live, but rather I heard them. The performance is on tomorrow, and if you're in the US, I could probably decipher when it'd be on in your area.
ThaSchwab 1 year ago
@ThaSchwab But was it better than Elgar's own performance of this?
starry2006 1 year ago
@starry2006
I've never heard Elgar's interperation, but I can safely say the one I heard was one of the best.
ThaSchwab 1 year ago