Elgar: Music for Powick Asylum
Complete Edition Volume 22
Expected to ship in 1-2 weeks.
- Composer: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Editor: Andrew Lyle
- Format: Full Score – Hardcover
- Binding: Hardcover
- ISBN:
Description
It was at the Powick Asylum, situated between Worcester and Malvern but now demolished, that Elgar obtained his first paid employment as a musician. Joining the asylum band as a violinist in 1877, he took on the role of bandmaster from 1879 until 1884, a job which involved not only conducting the assembled forces but also composing pieces for the band to play at its Friday evening dances. During his time at Powick, he turned out 31 completed works, mainly in the style of the popular dances of the day – four sets of quadrilles and one of lancers (with five quadrilles or lancers to each set), five polkas and a Menuetto – and also sketched a further set of quadrilles. The band was a somewhat ad hoc affair of varying composition, requiring Elgar to provide parts for instruments such as the bombardon, and in some cases a part for whatever instrument turned up on the day.
The music has not previously been published; it has survived only in the form of the part-books used by the musicians and now held in the Elgar Birthplace archive. This has presented a number of unusual challenges. with no full score for all but the Menuetto, only what appears to be a piano-conductor's score, the complete score has been reconstructed from the separate parts. The partbooks are entirely manuscript, mainly in Elgar's own hand, presenting problems of legibility and imprecision to overcome in a hurriedly written-out part. in doing so, Elgar employed a number of quaint shorthand ploys requiring interpretation and expansion. and for the string section, duplicate partbooks exist, obviously intended for use by different desks; while these should be identical to each other, there are the predictable discrepancies to resolve between them, indicative of a copying error rather than a daring harmonic experiment by the youthful Elgar. Add to this the unusually repetitive nature of the music with, for one of the pieces, a surviving ambiguity in the order in which the repeats are to be performed, and even the casual reader may appreciate the care and skill needed to produce a definitive volume of this nature.
The volume has been edited by Andrew Lyle, former BBC Radio 3 producer, who has developed a particular interest and expertise in this music.
11 complete works for the Asylum band, comprising:
- Menuetto;
- four sets of Quadrilles (Die junge Kokette; L'Assomoir; La Brunette; Paris); one set of Lancers (The Valentine);
- five Polkas (Maud; Nelly; La Blonde; Helcia; Blumine)
1 substantial set of sketch scores for the Five Singing Quadrilles;
7 sets of Quadrille fragments and sketches.
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 Powick Asylum
