Elgar - Symphony No. 2 - (1/7)

Allegro vivace e nobilmente (1/2)

Elgar's second symphony is such an amazing piece, and it could even be my favourite piece of classical music! I only heard it for the first time around three weeks ago, at the BBC Proms, with Vassily Sinaisky conducting. I instantly fell in love with this piece. They was so much joy, but then so much sorrow. I instantley brought this recording the next day.

As well as paying tribute to Elgar in these videos, we also are paying respect to the fantastic conductor, Sir Edward Downes who died recently. He commited assisted suicide with his wife, Lady Joan Downes, in Switzerland, 10th July 2009. Rest in Peace.

It is a fantastic performance!
BBC Philharomic
Sir Edward Downes.

British Masterpieces
Earthatic Summer Season of British Music

Category:

Music

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• elgar
• symphony
• part
• Allegro
• vivace
• nobilmente
• british
• masterpieces
• earthatic
• summer
• season
• bbc
• philharomic
• sir
• edward
• downes

[peace4allyo]

I want to find his unfinished symphony. I heard it on the radio and it's gorgeous! I think it's number three. Any suggestion?

[earthatic]

I have it on CD, I could upload it if you want me too! It was completed by Anthony Payne.

[Sinfoniette]

Since no one have mentioned the Elgar cello concerto, I will mention it now, because it is such a staple of the whole musical repertoire, or maybe that just applies to cellists.

Have you heard Boult's Elgar No.2? It is quite accessible and Boult is a great "Elgarian", as many call him.

[earthatic]

I have not heard Boult conducting this piece yet, but I do have the recording. As I only heard the piece for the first time last month, I haven't had enough time to sample loads of the recordings available. I have heard Elder and the Halle, and this one. I am planning to listen to the Boult recording soon, as well as Elgar conducting the LSO.

[SirTedFairyspear]

Mr Dum.....Mr. Dum......what are we normal people going to do with you? A sociopath with a bizarre, fulminating, pathological hatred of anyone who enjoys pre-21st Century orchestral music: now THAT'S a new one for the psychiatrists! One can only assume that in your formative years your music teacher rogered you behind the bike sheds using a rolled-up score of the Enigma Variations. Please seek professional help for your dysfunctional anger management ; let the rest of us enjoy Elgar in peace.

[SirTedFairyspear]

Excuse me - I rather thought that we, as individuals, have the right to enjoy whatever type of music we damn well please - archaic or not. Or perhaps you would rather that humanity destroyed all pre 21st century music. Hey, while we're at it, why stop with music - let's get rid of those Old Masters, and the "dinosaur" sculptors like Michaelangelo, and for good measure let's burn Shakespeare's plays. Now wouldn't THAT make the world a better place?

[lansing789]

@earthatic Thank you so much for posting this passionate and joyous symphony. I too instantly fell in love with it. Elgar is one of those guys that kind of gets overlooked sometimes but when looking back he was a very intelligent and compassionate composer. Love him!

[happywandy457]

HappyWandy457, gentlemen; please make up your minds! We are all music lovers, nobody should argue on preferences, rather put your intellect on analysis of what music tells us and find ways to contact each other, such as being musicians who interact as listeners. LISTENERS ALSO ARE MUSICIANS!

Hans Fröhlich - Germany

[NonInflatable]

@peace4allyo

I first heard the Payne reconstruction of his Third Symphony on a flight to the USA.

I feel very grateful to Payne for putting in the work - it can't have been easy. I believe only the opening passages were fully scored.

The only thing I would say is that it has a thin, ghostly feel to it. It is definitely Elgar, but almost like Elgar via a Ouija board.

Still well worth a listen, but it left me sad that Elgar didn't have another 6 months of life in which to finish it.

[RollaArtis]

@earthatic Er- don't you mean "completed"?. I think it's too long, someone else should try their hand without the bits that sound like a car advert.

[elgar34]

So I listen again to this awesome symphony. Just unbelievable.

[elgar34]

AWESOME! 

[elgar34]

Mahler is always so worshiped for his complexities... it is going on here too.

[elgar34]

As great as any of the Mahler symphonies. This is truly the landscape of a precious soul.

[Sissiaraujo]

Superb!!!

[erblichhans]

@dumdumdumduuuum Apparently, you think it isn't possible to both love Elgar and modern music.

Well, here are your 5 modern composers:

- Richard Rijnvos (born 1964). One week ago, I went to the world premiere of his 'Die Kammersängerin'.

- Anton Webern.

- Morton Feldman.

- Peter Adriaansz

- Karlheinz Stockhausen.

But I still like Elgar, especially the two symphonies, the cello concerto and the string quartet. Why is that so bad?