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THE ELGAR ARCHIVES!
updated: 01/23/2006

THE ELGAR ARCHIVES!

PART ONE: The Acoustic Recordings

 

Bach/Elgar: Transcription of the Fantasia & Fugue in C Minor. (Rec. 12/7/21)

Bavarian Dances, Op. 27. (Rec. 1/28/17)

Carillon, Op. 75. Henry Ainley, speaker. (Rec. 1/29/15)

Carissima. (Rec. 1/20/14)

Cello Concerto, Beatrice Harrison, cello; Rec. 12/22/1919

Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15. (Rec. 5/22/19)

Cockaigne Overture. (Rec. 2/28/17)

The Dream of Gerontius: Prelude & Angel’s Farewell. (Rec. 2/28/17)

Enigma Variations, Op. 36. (Rec. 5/11/21)

The Fringes of the Fleet. Words by Kipling, w/ Charles Mott, Frederick Henry, Harry

Barrett and Frederick Stewart, baritones. (Rec. early July, 1917)

In the South, Overture, Op. 50. (Rec. 12/30/23)

Inside the Bar (no opus number given); the cast is the same as in "The Fringes of the Fleet (Rec. 7/27/17)

Handel/Elgar: Transcription of the Overture in D Minor (rec. 10/26/24)

Polonia Overture, Op. 76. (Rec. 5/22/19),

Pomp & Circumstances March No. 1, Op. 39, no. 1 .(Rec. 6/26/14)

Pomp & Circumstances March No.4, Op. 30, No. 1 (Rec. 6/26/12)

Salut d’Amour, Op. 12. (Rec. 6/29/14)

The Sanguine Fan, Op. 81, unidentified segment thereof. (Rec. 2/24/20)

From the Saga of King Olaf: A Little Bird is in the Air. (Rec. 12/7/21)

Sea Pictures, Op. 37. Leila Megaine, contralto. (Rec. 1/8/23)

The Starlight Express, Op. 78. Words by Algernon Blackwood; Agnes Nicolls, soprano; Charles Mott, baritone. (Rec. 2/18/16)

Symphony No. 2, Op. 63. (Rec. 3/20/24)

Transcription of Bach’s Fantasia & Fugue in C minor, Op. 86. (Rec. 10/26/23)

Transcription of Handel’s Overeture in D Minor. (Rec. 11/26/23)

Violin Concerto, Op. 61. w/ Marie Hall, soloist. (Rec. 12/16/16)

The Wand of Youth, Opp. 1-a, 1-b. (Rec.2/28/17 & 5/22/19)

Unissued Alternate Version, (Rec. 5/22/19)

[Note: the contents of these two suites vary as shown in this side-by-side comparison:]

Suite as recorded & Published The Tame Bear. The Wild Bear, Overture, Sin Dance, March, Faries & Giants, Serenade, The Little Bells, Fairy Pipers, Moths and Butterflies

Unissued Version: Overture, Sun Dance, March, Faries & Giants, Fariy Pipers, Moths and Butterflies.

 

PART TWO: THE ELECTRICAL RECORDINGS

(The first thing you’ll notice is how the recorded sound improves year by year, until it becomes almost as good as the mono recordings of the Fifties. The other, more important thing you’ll notice is how free-wheeling the composer was when it came to interpreting his own work. He was a spur-of-the-moment, "inspirational" conductor, who didn’t care so much for perfect ensemble and polish as he did for spontaneous excitement and vitality. He’s on record as a staunch admirer and defender of Stokowski, and it shows in some of these interpretations!)

The Banner of St. George ("Epilogue"), Op. 33. w/ London Symphony Orchestra & Philharmonic Choir, recorded at Queens Hall, 2/3/1928

3 Bavarian Dances, Op. 27. w/ London Symphony Orch. Dance No. 1 recorded in Queens Hall, 7/15/1927; Dance No. 2 recorded in Queens Hall, same date; Dance No. 3 recorded at Abbey Road studio, 2/2/1932.

Beau Brummel – Minuet from. W/ London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Kingsway Hall, 12/10/1928.

Beau Brummel – Minuet (re-take sessions). w/ New Symphony Orch; Small Queens Hall; 11/7/1929

Caractacus, Op. 35 ("Wooldland Interlude" & "Triumphal March"). London Symphony Orchestra; Lawrence Collingwood conducting; Abbey Road Studio; Sir Edward supervised the session via direct telephone hook-up from Mort Bank, Worcester, on 1/22/1934

Carissima. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/7/1929

Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40. w/ Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, recorded in Queens Hall, 4/27/1926.

Cockaigne Overture (Re-make). w/ BBC Symphony Orchestra; Abbey Road Studio; 4/11/1933

Contrasts, Op. 10/ No. 3. w/ London Philharmonic Orchestra; Abbey Road Studio; 2/21/1933

 

The Crown of India, Op. 66 (Suite: Introduction & Dance of the Nautch Girls – Warrior’s Dance – March of the Mogul Emperors). w/ London Symphony Orchestra; Kingsway Hall; 9/15/1930 & 11/22/1930

The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38. w/ Royal Albert Hall Orchestra & Choral Society; Margaret Balfour, soprano; Stuart Wilson, tenor; Herbert Heyner, baritone; Recorded in performance at Royal Albert Hall, 2/26/1927

Elegy, Op. 58. w/ London Philharmonic Orchestra; Kingsway Hall; 8/29/1933

"Falstaff" – Interludes from. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/8/1929

Froissart Overture, Op. 19. w/ London Philharmonic Orchestra; Kingsway Hall; 2/21/1933

God Save the King (arr. Elgar). w/ London Symphoony Orchestra & Philharmonic Choir, recorded in Queens Hall, 2/3/1928

O God Our Help in Ages Past. w/ London Symphony Orchestra & Philharmonic Choir, recorded at Queens Hall, 2/3/1928

Five Ivory Improvisations. Composer at the Piano, recorded in Small Queens Hall, 11/6/1929

Land of Hope & Glory. w/ London Symphony Orchestra & Philharmonic Choir; Margaret Balfour, contralto; recorded in Queens Hall, 2/3/1928

The Light of Life, -- "Meditation" section, Op. 29. w/ Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, recorded in Queens Hall, 8/30/1926

In the South Overture, Op. 50. w/ London Symphony Orchestra; Kingsway Hall’ 9/15/1930

May Song. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/7/1929

Mazurka. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/8/1929

Minuet, Op. 21. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/8/1929

Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39:

No. 1 in D Major; Royal Albert Hall Orchestra; Queens Hall; 4/27/1926

No. 2, A Minor; Royal Albert Hall Orch; Queens Hall; 4/27/1926

No. 3, C Minor; Royal Albert Hall Orch.; Queens Hall; 7/15/1927

No. 4, G Minor; Royal Albert Hall Orch.; Queens Hall; 7/15/1927

No. 5, C Major; London Symphony Orch; Kingsway Hall; 9/18/1930

Pomp & Circumstance Marches (re-makes)

No. 1, D Major. BBC Symphony Orchestra; Kingsway Hall; 10/7/1932

No. 2, A Minor. BBC Symphony Orchestra; Kingsway Hall’ 10/7/1932

No. 4, G Major. BBC Symphony Orchestra; Abbey Road Studio; 4/11/1933

Nursery Suite (Aubade – The Serious Doll – Busy-ness – The Sad Doll – The Wagon Passes – The Merry Doll – Dreaming – Enboy). w/ London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Kingsway Hall on 5/23/1931 and 6/4/1931.

Rosemary. w/ New Symphonyh Orchestra; Small Queens Hall; 11/7/1929

Salut d’Amour, Op. 12. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall’ 11/8/1929

Serenade Lyrique. w/ New Symphony Orchestra; Small Queens Hall, 11/19/1929

Serenade for Strings, Op. 20. w/ London Philharmonic Orchestra; Kingsway Hall; 8/29/1933

Severn Suite, Op. 87. w/ London Symphony Orchestra; Abbey Road Studio; 4/14/1932

Two Chansons, Op. 15. ("Chanson de nuit" w/ Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, recorded in Queens Hall on 4/27/1926; "Chanson de matin" w/ London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Queens Hall on 4/1/1927)

The Wand of Youth, Suite No. 1, Op. 1-A (Overture – Szerenade – Minuet – Sun Dance – Fairy Pipers – Slumber Scene – Fairies & Giants). w/ London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Kingsway Hall, 12/19/1928

The Wand of Youth Suite No. 2, Op. 1-B (March – Little Bells – Moths & Butterflies – Fountain Dance – The Tame Bear – The Wild Bears). w/ London Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Kingsway Hall, 12/20/1928

**BONUS TRACK**

Elgar making introductory remarks to audience and then conducting "Land of Hope & Glory" for a "talking" motion picture, the first musical documentary made in England; November 12, 1931