A2 Music Set Works

Joe Thomas

Elgar - Symphony No 1 in A flat Major.

Elgars first symphony is a 4 movement symphony for a large orchestra. It was

first performed by the Hall Orchestra on 3rd December 1908 at the Free Trade Hall

in Manchester, conducted by Dr Hans Ritcher and was dedicated to Hans Ritcher,

true artist and true friend. The first performance was approximately 50 minutes

long but the performance of this symphony can vary between 45-55 minutes

depending on the conductor and their personal decisions of the tempo of each

movement.

Elgar had first considered composing this symphony which was to be based on

the life of General Gordon as early as 1898 but the work never materialised as he did

not want to be compared to the popular composers of the time for example Bach or

Beethoven. Finally; shortly after his fiftieth birthday in 1907 he settled down to work

on the symphony. The composition that emerged was totally different work from the

Gordon symphony he had contemplated for for many years prior.

The symphony was an immediate success with Elgar being recalled to the

platform several times both during and after the symphonys first performance and the

first London performance four days later. The symphony received around 100

performances during its first year and remains a standard of the classical repertoire

and is often performed at the proms.

ELGAR SYMPHONY NO1 !1