Canon
Where to start with Elgar
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralEnigma Variations, op. 36
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VocalThe Dream of Gerontius, op. 38 — Oratorio
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Keyboard'?', for piano
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Chamber2 Pieces, op. 13
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OrchestralMilitary Marches, op. 39, "Pomp and Circumstance"
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OrchestralCello Concerto in E minor, op. 85
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OrchestralCockaign Overture, op. 40
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OrchestralSymphony no. 1 in A flat major, op. 55
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OrchestralViolin Concerto in B minor, op. 61
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Vocal2 Partsongs, for chorus, 2 violins and piano, op. 26
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Chamber2 Pieces, op. 15
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Vocal2 Songs, op. 41
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Vocal2 Songs, op. 71
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Vocal2 Songs, op. 73
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Orchestral3 Bavarian Dances, op. 27b
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Elgar's catalogueMost Popular
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Enigma Variations
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Cello Concerto in E minor
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Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
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Introduction and Allegro for Strings
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Serenade for Strings
Most Acclaimed
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Symphony No. 1 in A-flat
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Symphony No. 2 in E-flat
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Dream of Gerontius
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Violin Concerto in B minor
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The Music Makers
Most Weird
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Cello Concertowritten after WWI — valedictory, autumnal, unlike anything else; the premiere was a disaster
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Symphony No. 2his darkest symphony — written in the shadow of WWI; opens with a quote from Shelley about death
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The Music MakersOde — he quotes his own Enigma Variations and other works throughout as ”memory”
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Falstaff (symphonic study)two interludes depicting Falstaff dreaming of his youth — strangely tender
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Enigma Variations — ”Nimrod”the unidentified theme it’s all variations on has never been identified conclusively
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 174
- Orchestral
- ● Enigma Variations, op. 36
- ● Military Marches, op. 39, "Pomp and Circumstance"
- Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85
- Cockaign Overture, op. 40
- Symphony no. 1 in A flat major, op. 55
- Violin Concerto in B minor, op. 61
- 3 Bavarian Dances, op. 27b
- 3 Characteristic Pieces, op. 10
- 5 Polkas
- A Singing Quadrille
- Beau Brummel, incidental music
- Carissima, for small orchestra
- Civic Fanfare, for orchestra and organ
- Coronation March, op. 65
- Die junge Kokette
- Dream Children, for small orchestra, op. 43
- Elegy, op. 58
- Falstaff, symphonic study in C minor, op. 68
- Froissart, concert overture, op. 19
- Grania and Diarmid, incidental music, op. 42
- Imperial March, op. 32
- In the South, concert overture, op. 50, "Alassio"
- Introduction and Allegro, for string quartet and string orchestra, op. 47
- King Arthur, incidental music
- L'Assomoir
- La Brunette
- Le drapeau belge, for reciter and orchestra, op. 79
- Menuetto, for orchestra
- Nursery Suite
- Paris
- Polonia, symphonic prelude, op. 76
- Romance, for bassoon and orchestra, op. 62
- Rosemary, "That's for remembrance. Douce pensée"
- Serenade for Strings in E minor, op. 20
- Severn Suite, for brass band, op. 87
- Sevillana, piano, or military band, op. 7
- Sospiri, for strings, harp, and organ, op. 70
- Sursum Corda, for brass, organ, strings and 2 timpani in B flat major, op. 11
- Symphony no. 2 in E flat major, op. 63
- Symphony no. 3 — Completed by Anthony Payne
- Sérénade lyrique, for small orchestra
- The British Empire March
- The Crown of India
- The Spanish Lady, for string orchestra, op. 89
- The Starlight Express, incidental music, op. 78
- The Starlight Express, suite from the incidental music
- The Valentine
- Une voix dans le désert, for reciter and orchestra, op. 77
- Wand of Youth, Suite no. 1, op. 1a
- Wand of Youth, Suite no. 2, op. 1b
- Vocal
- The Dream of Gerontius, op. 38 — Oratorio
- 2 Partsongs, for chorus, 2 violins and piano, op. 26
- 2 Songs, op. 41
- 2 Songs, op. 71
- 2 Songs, op. 73
- 3 Partsongs, op. 18
- 3 Songs from The Starlight Express
- 3 Songs, op. 16
- 4 Partsongs, op. 53
- A Soldier's Song, "A War Song"
- A Song of Autumn
- Arabian Serenade
- As I laye a-thinkynge
- Ave Maria gratia plena, op. 2 no. 2 — Motet
- Ave maris stella, op. 2, no. 3 — Motet
- Ave verum, op. 2, no. 1 — Motet
- Big Steamers, for unison chorus and piano
- Caractacus, op. 35 — Cantata
- Come, gentle night
- Coronation Ode, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, op. 44, "Land of Hope and Glory"
- Death on the Hills, op. 72
- Dry those Fair, those Crystal Eyes
- Ecce sacerdos magnus, gradual for chorus and orchestra
- Evening Scene
- Fear not, O Land, harvest anthem for chorus and organ
- From the Greek Anthology, 5 partsongs for male chorus, op. 45
- Give unto the Lord, anthem for chorus, organ and orchestra ad lib, op. 74
- Go, Song of Mine, partsong for double chorus, op. 57
- Goodmorrow, for chorus
- Great is the Lord, anthem for chorus and organ, op. 67
- How Calmly the Evening
- I Sing the birth, carol for chorus
- In Moonlight, "Canto popolare"
- Is she not passing fair?
- It isnae me
- Like to the Damask Rose
- Lux Christi, op. 29
- O Hearken Thou, offertory for chorus, organ and orchestra, op. 64
- O Salutaris Hostia I in F major, for chorus and organ
- O Salutaris Hostia II in E flat major, for chorus and organ
- O Salutaris Hostia III, for chorus and organ
- Pageant of Empire — Song cycle
- Pleading, op. 48, no. 1
- Queen Alexandra Memorial Ode, for chorus and military band, "So many true princesses who have gone"
- Queen Mary's Song
- Roundel: The little eyes that never knew light
- Scenes from The Saga of King Olaf, op. 30 — Cantata
- Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands, 6 songs for chorus and piano, op. 27a
- Sea Pictures, for alto, organ, and orchestra, op. 37 — Song cycle
- Song Cycle, for voice and orchestra, op. 59
- Tantum Ergo, for chorus and organ
- Te Deum and Benedictus, for chorus, orchestra and organ, op. 34
- The Apostles, op. 49 — Oratorio
- The Black Knight, op. 25 — Cantata
- The Crown of India, imperial masque in 2 tableaux for alto, bass, chorus and orchestra, op. 66
- The Fringes of the Fleet, for baritone solo, 3 baritones and orchestra
- The Kingdom, op. 51 — Oratorio
- The Music Makers, ode for alto, chorus, organ, and orchestra, op. 69
- The Pipes of Pan
- The Poet's Life
- The Prince of Sleep
- The Spirit of England, 3 songs for soprano/tenor, chorus and orchestra, op. 80
- The Wanderer
- The Wind at Dawn
- They are at rest, anthem for chorus
- To her, beneath whose steadfast star, for chorus
- Weary Wind of the West
- With Proud Thanksgiving, for chorus, orchestra, and organ
- XTC
- Keyboard
- '?', for piano
- 8 Vesper Voluntaries, for organ, op. 14
- Adieu
- Cantique, for organ, orchestra, or piano, op. 3
- Chantant
- Concert Allegro, op. 46
- Echo's Dance
- Griffinesque
- In Smyrna
- Loughborough Memorial Chime, for carillon
- May Song
- Minuet, op. 21
- Organ Sonata no. 1 in G major, op. 28
- Pastourelle
- Salut d'amour, op. 12
- Serenade
- Skizze
- Chamber
- 2 Pieces, op. 13
- 2 Pieces, op. 15
- 3 Pieces, op. 4
- 5 Intermezzi, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and basson
- 6 Promenades, for wind quintet
- Adagio Cantabile, 'Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup', for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Allegretto on G–E–D–G–E
- Alphonsa Gavotte, for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, clarinet and bassoon
- Andante and Allegro, for oboe, violin, viola, and cello
- Andante con variazione, 'Evesham Andante', for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Berceuse - Petite reine, for violin and piano
- Duett, for trombone and double bass
- Etude caprice
- Etudes caracteristiques, for solo violin, op. 24
- Fugue in D minor, for violin and oboe
- Gavotte, op. 13, no. 3
- Gigue, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Harmony Music no. 1, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Harmony Music no. 2, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Harmony Music no. 3, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Harmony Music no. 4, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, "The Farm Yard"
- Harmony Music no. 5, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, "The Mission"
- La Capricieuse, op. 17
- Mazurka, for violin and piano
- Menuetto in B flat major, for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 84
- Polonaise in D minor
- Reminiscences
- Romance for Violin and Piano in C minor, op. 1
- Salut d'amour, op. 12
- Sarabande, largo for 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Soliloquy, for oboe and piano
- String Quartet in E minor, op. 83
- Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Position, op. 22
- Violin Sonata in E minor, op. 82
- Stage
- Carillon, for speaker and orchestra, op. 75
- The Crown of India, imperial masque for alto, bass, chorus and orchestra, op. 66
- The Sanguine Fan, op. 81 — Ballet