Elgar: Sacred Music (unaccompanied or with keyboard)
Complete Edition Volume 12
Expected to ship in 1-2 weeks.
- Composer: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Editor: Diane Nolan Cooke
- Format: Full Score – Hardcover
- Binding: Hardcover
- ISBN:
Description
Elgar composed religious works throughout most of his life, his earliest being written as teenage experiments in composition and harmony, the latest composed within five years of his death. and they were numerous: alongside a bundle of seventeen fragments, sketches and a few fully drafted but not wholly finished works, this volume brings together 45 works, some in multiple arrangements for different voices, all of which Elgar appears to have completed to his own satisfaction. These are carefully chosen words because the works vary considerably in substance and scale, from Major anthems such as the Te Deum and Benedictus and his two Psalm settings to his reharmonisation of simple hymn tunes, and they survive in a variety of forms.
Arguable the most intriguing works are settings of a number of familiar Latin texts, the main source for each of which is a complete draft full score, lacking articulation and text underlay and with only a rudimentary accompaniment. A parallel set of autograph vocal parts generally lacking an Alto part provides missing detail for other voices, while a non-autograph vocal score provides the Alto articulation – a jigsaw which through painstaking reconstruction provides a score which is complete in all except the accompaniment. and yet we know that most, possibly all of these works were performed at St George's Church, Worcester during Elgar's time there as organist. Did he consider it unnecessary to write down the simpler passages of an accompaniment he envisaged no-one but himself ever performing?
Few of the works in this volume will be familiar to readers: the four Major works for which he also provided an orchestral accompaniment (to be published in Volume 12) and the early Ave Verum Corpus , no doubt; and perhaps some of his shorter settings of English text from his mature years – works such as I Sing the Birth and Good Morrow. But many of the works date from his time at St George's where his responsibilities as organist not only required him to provide liturgical settings for the choir to perform but also provided him with the opportunity to develop his compositional skills. Inevitably, in her analysis of this previously unexplored territory, the volume's editor, Diane Nolan Cooke, has come across many riddles and solved most of them. One work recorded many years ago as a Salutaris by Elgar has been found to be the work of an earlier hand, while four other, previously unattributed works have been shown by inductive reasoning to be beyond reasonable doubt original compositions by Elgar. While these newly discovered works may be of little consequence – three Litanies and a short Tantum Ergo based on an unidentified theme by Handel – these and other similarly Minor discoveries coalesce to provide an intriguing picture of the budding composer struggling to escape from his provincial upbringing and launch himself on the path that would eventually lead to the works on which his reputation rests today, including the two Major anthems from his prime, Great is the Lord and Give unto the Lord.
Forty original works
- Four Major anthems : Te Deum and Benedictus ; O Hearken Thou (Offertorium , Anthem, Intende voci Orationis Meæ); Great is the Lord (Psalm 48); Give Unto the Lord (Psalm 29);
- Three settings of O Salutaris Hostia in E♭ Major, in F Major and in G Major;
- Three Anthems, Op. 2 : Ave Verum/Jesu, Word of God Incarnate (SATB); Jesu, Word of God Incarnate (SSA); Ave Maria; Jesu, Lord of Life and Glory; Ave Maris Stella; Jesu, Meek & Lowly;
- Five other anthems and carols : Ecce Sacerdos Magnus; They are at Rest; Fear not, O Land; I sing the Birth; Good Morrow;
- Six original hymn tunes including Drakes Broughton ;
- Four Litanies for the Blessed Virgin Mary and four previously unpublished original Litanies;
- Four Anglican chants and a unique chant sequence ;
- Settings of Stabat Mater , Laudate Dominum , O mightiest of the mighty and Lo! Christ the Lordis Born ;
- Eight settings of familiar Latin texts with incomplete accompaniments : Gloria in F Major on Mozart; Credos in A (on Beethoven) and E Minor; Salve Regina ; a Tantum Ergo in D Major; Regina Coeli ; Kyrie Eleison in D Minor; and another O Salutaris Hostia in E♭ Major.
6 works for which Elgar provided new harmonisations
five for pre-existing hymn tunes, the sixth a Tantum Ergo on an unidentified theme by Handel
Fragments and sketches for a further 17 unfinished works
including a full but disjointed setting of Brother, for thee he died ; three settings of the Gloria; two of the Kyrie Eleison; two of the Magnificat; two further settings of O Salutaris Hostia; and a setting of Psalm 83.
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
Facsimile
Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
Hardcover
Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
Orchestral Parts
Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
With Audio
In addition to the printed music, the edition contains recordings of the pieces. This may be an included CD, or access to files on the internet.
With / Without Fingering (Markings)
Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Elgar: Sacred Music (unaccompanied or with keyboard)
