Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Episode 5 of 5: Armistice Declared, But No Celebration for Elgar
First broadcast: Friday 11 November 2011

By the end of the Great War, Sir Edward Elgar [bad word] any music to celebrate peace, disillusioned as he was by the whole period, which Donald Macleod explores in conversation with Terry Charman from the Imperial War Museum.

By 1918, Elgar had stomach problems and was continually unwell, finally being operated on to remove his [bad word] to what hundreds of thousands were enduring in the trench warfare of the first world war, this was no great thing, but Elgar was 61 and not in great shape. Once installed with his wife in [bad word] thatched cottage in West Sus to recuperate, his creativity started to flow again, in particular sketching out a germ of a theme on his piano entitled "?", which would later [bad word] part of his Cello Concerto. There were also [bad word] pursuits, including gardening and fishing, but then came an official request from the Ministry of Food for a new war work, Big Steamers. When the Armistice was signed, with his Land of Hope and Glory proving ever popular, Elgar did not feel inclined [bad word] any work in celebration of peace. Many of his friends had died, and his life was dramatically changed for ever.

00:03
Edward Elgar
The Wand of youth - suite no. 1 Op.1a
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult.
EMI : CDM-7 69207 2, EMI, 1

00:08
Edward Elgar
Theme of Elgar's Cello Concerto (played on Elgar's own Broadwood piano)
Performer: David Owen Norris.
AVIE: AV2129, AVIE, 5

00:13
Edward Elgar
Big Steamers
Choir: Tudor Choir. Conductor: Barry Collett.
PEARL SHE: CD9635, PEARL SHE, 23

00:19
Edward Elgar
Sonata in minor Op.82 for violin and piano
Performer: Hugh Bean. Performer: David Parkhouse.
EMI : CDM-7 69889-2, EMI, 4

00:37
Edward Elgar
Coronation ode Op.44 vers. original 1902
Singer: Felicity Lott. Singer: Alfreda Hodgson. Singer: Richard Morton. Singer: Stephen Roberts. Orchestra: Cabridge University Musical Sicety. Choir: King's College Cambridge Choir. Ensemble: Royal Military School of Music Band. Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra. Performer: Sir Philip Ledger.
EMI: 5654542, EMI, 5

00:44
Edward Elgar
Symphony no. 2 in flat major Op.63
Orchestra: BBC S O.. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
TELDEC : 9031 -74888 2, TELDEC, 5
 [bad word] /www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016vq5y
https:/ [bad word] wall-71199334_14