Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55 - Elgar IV (part2/2)

[JSmout91]

@ancestralvoices I did. It just popped into my head from nowhere one day as I was listening to it (the symphony). I thought I ought to write it down, so I did.

[llyranor]

0:17 to 1:20 is my favorite composition by Elgar, though I think I prefer Barbirolli's interpretation of it (or maybe I'm just more used to that one).

[JSmout91]

"A soaring theme, noble, heroic, triumphant, and at the same time melancholic, poignant. One of loss, but also one of longing. Tragic yet inspirational in equal measure. It is quite possibly the finest theme of Elgar's, and perhaps deserves to be more developed. However, the fact that it is a small fragment of a larger tapestry, for me renders it all the more effective".

The theme in question is the one beginning at 0:18.

[ancestralvoices1]

@JSmout91

May I ask you who wrote that wonderful and accurate quote? This passage of music by Elgar also happens to be my favorite bit of music. I have obsessively purchased many versions by varying orchestras and conductors. I favor Sinopoli's and Bryden Thompsons(at least for this wonderful passage of sound). Thompson's a bit too slow in the other sections, but a slow recording of this wonderful passage :17 to 1:20 is sublime(though Elgar himself recorded it at a faster speed).

[bcing75]

This brings me to near tears every time. Everything Elgar is amazing, especially this.

[beermeister91]

You can't hear it very well, but listen as carefully as you can to that beautiful flowing passage from about 0:18 and listen out for the harps. If you hear the part on its own, without the rest of the orchestra you realise it's a passage to die for. It's beautiful.

[mazen6]

i love it all :)

[GigiBitchi]

4:33 - 4:45 = EPIC HORN

[sahalexx]

sublime

[SkylinerG]

Glorious!  Thank you for uploading these clips.

[brucewallace2]

I heard this live conducted by the late Alexander Gibson an absolutely unforgetable experience!!

[anrun]

The bit on the strings starting at 4:05 is one of my favorite moments in all music. Simple but sublime.

[SirTedFairyspear]

Yes, that "soaring" figure! I call it the "arrow of desire" because Elgar uses something similar in his arrangement of Parry's "Jerusalem", at the words "bring me my arrows of desire" - and you can almost hear the arrows winging across the orchestra! Finally, in the reconstructed 3rd Symphony, there's another "arrow of desire" figure in the 1st movement. To me, it's Elgar's artistic spirit taking flight!

[anrun]

Very interesting, thank you.

[gattyumatte]

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[RFucs]

This is WONDERFUL.