Serenade from Serenade for Strings (414.01)

Serenade from Serenade for Strings (414.01) Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar (1857–1934) is often regarded as a typically English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best known compositions are the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including “The Dream of Gerontius”. He was appointed Master of the Kings Musick in 1924 and has been described as the first composer to take the gramophone recording seriously. Between 1914 and 1925, he conducted a series of acoustic recordings of his works. The introduction of the microphone in 1925 made far more accurate sound reproduction possible, and Elgar made new recordings of most of his major orchestral works. Serenade The Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20, is a work for string orchestra in three short movements. Written in March 1892 and first performed in private in that year, by the Worcester Ladies Orchestral Class, with the composer conducting. It is dedicated to the organ builder and amateur musician Edward W Whinfield. The work has a youthful charm about it while at the same time displaying indications of the skills Elgar developed as he progressed towards musical maturity. It is reportedly the first of his compositions with which he professed himself satisfied. The work remains among the most frequently performed of all his music.