• 1857-1934
• Sir Edward Elgar was born in Broadheath, Worcestershire. His father owned a shop there that sold sheet music and musical instruments.
• Apart from having violin lessons Elgar was self-taught. He studied the printed music in his father’s shop and often traveled with him when he went on his rounds to tune pianos.
• When Elgar was 29, he took on a pupil, Caroline Alice Roberts, a published author of verse and prose fiction. Alice became his wife three years later. From then until her death she acted as his business manager and social secretary,
• As an engagement present, Elgar dedicated his short violin and piano piece "Salut d'Amour" to Alice.
• Elgar wrote three oratorios, one of which, The Dream of Gerontius, is considered by many to be his greatest work. His resume also includes two symphonies, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, an Allegro for Strings, and chamber music.
• Elgar's most popular piece is the first of his five Pomp and Circumstance marches. It contains the tune which is sung to the words "Land Of Hope and Glory” and the audience always join in singing it at the Last Night of the Proms. Also American high school and college students often march down the aisles of auditoriums to the song during their graduation ceremony.
• The composer was a keen race-goer, but a lousy gambler. When Elgar turned up at his local Worcester race course, the bookies rubbed their hands with glee as he never seemed to be able to back the winner.
• Elgar enjoyed football, supporting Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. He composed an anthem in honor of their forward, Billy Malpass, "He Banged The Leather For Goal."
• Elgar was the first composer to take the gramophone seriously. Between 1914 and 1925, he conducted a series of acoustic recordings of his works for His Master's Voice (HMV). (Source The Encyclopedia of Trivia).

Comments

More Songfacts:

I SwearAll-4-One

"I Swear" was a #1 country hit for John Michael Montgomery before All-4-One made it a #1 pop hit.

I Won't Back DownTom Petty

"I Won't Back Down" is a very personal song for Tom Petty. "I thought it wasn't that good because it was so naked," he said.

MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett

"Margaritaville" is a state of mind, but it's most associated with Key West, Florida, where Jimmy Buffett moved when he was 24.

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeElton John

Recording "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," Elton John was frustrated and sang the line "don't discard me" with an exaggerated American accent, which is why is sounds strange.

Cult of PersonalityLiving Colour

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour incorporates speeches by John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Street HassleLou Reed

Lou Reed's 11-minute "Street Hassle" features a spoken part by Bruce Springsteen.

Editor's Picks

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.