Elgar: Music for Piano
Complete Edition Volume 35
Expected to ship in 1-2 weeks.
- Composer: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Editor: Iain Farrington
- Format: Full Score – Hardcover
- Binding: Hardcover
- ISBN:
Description
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Elgar clearly believed that the way to a woman's heart was through his music. Work for this volume on two previously unpublished piano miniatures he composed in the mid-1880s, the ‘Enina' Waltz and the ‘Laura' Waltz, has identified them as gifts to would-be fiancées, completing an annual cycle of such compositions brought to its intended conclusion by Salut d'amour , his gift to Alice prior to their marriage in 1889. The incredible success of Salut d'amour sparked a further chain of compositions, with Mot d'amour appearing a year later as a piece for violin and piano. When in 1914 Elgar accepted a challenging contract from publisher Elkin to provide a succession of orchestral miniatures for salon orchestra, he first thought of orchestrating Mot d'amour ; but finding that path blocked by copyright restrictions, he instead provided two new compositions which he entitled Recit d'amour and Soupir d'amour. His publishers decided against French names and the two were subsequently published as Carissima and Sospiri. Elgar's own piano arrangements of both appear in this volume, the latter in the form of an early sketch which Elgar entitled Absence.
While the discovery and unravelling of such historical intricacies is satisfying, this is not the prime purpose of a Complete Edition, which is to present the totality of a composer's musical output including any scores not previously published. This is a volume bursting with such offerings, containing, among his 53 original compositions and arrangements for piano, 12 previously unpublished works, 3 of them his youthful arrangements of works by other composers. Admittedly, among those previously published, quite a few are no more than his piano arrangements of salon works better known in their original versions for other forces, but they also include such more substantial works as the Prelude and ‘Angel's Farewell' from The Dream of Gerontius , the ‘Enigma' Variations, the ‘Meditation' from The Light of Life , Three Bavarian Dances , Three Characteristic Pieces , the complete Wand of Youth Suite No. 1 and his Five Piano Improvisations. Naturally the volume also contains the Concert Allegro , a work Elgar never completed to his own satisfaction. To serve the contrasting needs of both academics and those wishing to perform it, this work is presented in an unusual format in which Elgar's 1901 version is presented as a continuous work on the main staves, with later incomplete revisions added in ossia staves and by markings above and below the main staves. A full list of the volume's contents appears below.
9 previously unpublished versions for solo piano of his own works
- Cantique,, Op. 3
- Chantant
- ‘Enina' Waltz
- Fugue in C Minor
- ‘Laura' Valse
- March in D
- Mina
- Cello Concerto – Theme
- Sonatina(1889 edition)
3 youthful piano arrangements of works by other composers:
- the National Anthem
- Schumann – Scherzo (Op. 52)
- Wagner – Tannhauser Entry of Minstrels
35 previously published versions of his own works for solo piano:
- Adieu
- ‘Canto Popolare' ( from In the South , Op. 50 )
- Carillon , Op. 75
- Carissima
- Concert Allegro , Op. 46
- Dream Children , Op. 43
- The Dream of Gerontius: Prelude & ‘Angel's Farewell'
- Empire March
- ‘Echo's Dance' from The Sanguine Fan , Op. 81
- ‘Enigma' variations, Op. 36
- Falstaff Interludes , Op. 68
- Griffinesque
- Une Idyll , Op. 4, No. 1
- Imperial March , Op. 32
- In Smyrna
- Skizze
- May Song
- Meditation from The Light of Life , Op. 29
- Minuet from Beau Brummel
- Minuet , Op. 21
- Mot d'amour
- Nursery Suite – ‘ Sad Doll'
- Pastourelle (Air de Ballet)
- Presto
- Rosemary
- Salut d'amour , Op. 12
- Serenade
- Serenade Lyrique
- Sevillana , Op. 7
- Sonatina (1930 edition)
- Three Bavarian Dances , Op. 27
- Three Characteristic Pieces
- Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Op. 1a (2 versions of ‘Serenade')
- Virelai
Serenade for Strings – piano arrangement for 4 hands
Transcriptions of Elgar's five Piano Improvisations of 1929
9 sketches and fragments believed to be for works intended for piano.
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: Music for Piano
