Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar (1857-1934), British composer. Self-taught, he played in local orchestras and settled in Malvern after an unsuccessful period in London (1889-91). His Enigma Variations (1899), an orchestral work based on an, unheard theme, brought worldwide acclaim. Elgar played a major role in the revival of English choral music, particularly with his oratorio The Dream of Gerontius (1900). Other compositions include two symphonies, a violin concerto (1911), a cello concerto (1919), and the Pomp and Circumstance marches (1901-07, 1930), the first of which contains the tune `Land of Hope and Glory’. Elgar was knighted in 1904.
