Elgar

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge is required.

Content of Course

1. Elgar: the musical and historical background.

2. Overtures, Variations and Marches.

3. Choral music: oratorio, song cycle and part song.

4. The Symphonies, Violin Concerto and Falstaff.

5. Wartime music, chamber music and the Cello Concerto.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture based with musical illustrations and some discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Explain the biographical, musical and stylistic main features of Elgar

• Evaluate the principle parameters of the music of Elgar

• Identify the symphonies, concertos, chamber music and choral works of Elgar.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended reading:

• Kennedy, M. (2004) The Life of Elgar, Cambridge University Press (ISBN: 978-0521009072)

• McVeagh, D. (2017) Elgar The Music Maker, Boydell Press (ISBN: 978-1843832959)

• Northrop Moore, J. (2004) Elgar – Child of Dreams, Faber & Faber (ISBN: 978-0571223381)

Suggested listening:

• Elgar: Enigma Variations etc, BBC SO/Andrew Davis (2010), Apex

• Elgar: Violin Concerto, Nigel Kennedy/Vernon Handley (1984/2013), Warner Classics

• Elgar: String Quartet/Piano Quintet, Maggini String Quartet/Donohoe (1995), Naxos

Suggested viewing:

• Ken Russell's Elgar (1962), DVD film, BFI Video Publishing

• Elgar's Enigma Variations (2010), DVD documentary, Opus Arte/BBC

• Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (1968/2016), Sir Adrian Boult, DVD documentary, ICA Classics

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.