Sursum corda (Elgar)

Sursum corda, Op. 11 is a musical work by the English composer Edward Elgar for strings, brass, timpani and organ, composed in 1894. The composer dedicated it to his friend Henry Dyke Acland (1850-1936), an amateur cellist who was his golfing companion, manager of the Worcester Old Bank in Malvern, and son of Henry Acland.[1][2][3]

Nave of Worcester Cathedral

It was first performed at Worcester Cathedral on 9 April 1894, under the baton of Hugh Blair, organist of the cathedral. The composer was absent from this performance due to the ill health.[1][4][5] Its first London performance took place at a Queen's Hall Promenade Concert on 21 September 1901.

The title translates from the Latin to read, "Lift up your hearts".

Instrumentation

The work is scored for strings, 2 trumpets in B♭, 4 horns in F, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and organ.

Structure

Adagio solenne b flat major 2/4

The work begins with b flat call of brass. Strings expose main subject shown in excerpt 1.

Excerpt 1

\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } { \key bes \major \time 2/4 \partial 8. bes16\p \< ^\markup \italic sonore ( c d\!) f4~^\markup \italic ten. f16 f\<( g a\!) \acciaccatura f8 f'4~ f16 es( d c) g4. es16.->( d32) d4( c16) c\<( d es\!) }

After the climax, the music calms down. A new material is provided in the dialogue between organ and strings following the b flat call (Excerpt 2).

Excerpt 2

\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } { \key bes \major \time 2/4 \tempo "Poco più mosso." << { <d' bes d,>8.\mf ^\markup (Org) ( <c a>16 <bes g> <a fis> d, <fis c>) s2 <f' d f,>8. ^\markup (Org) ( <es bes~>16 <d bes> <c f,~> f, <a c>) } \\ { s2 \voiceOne \acciaccatura d,8 d'8.\sf ^\markup (Vn) ( c16) bes\>( a) d,( es\!) s2 } >> }

Second climax, developed from excerpt 2, is followed by reappearance of excerpt 1. Brass call indicates the end of the final climax, and coda, using excerpt 1 and other materials, concludes the work with satisfying sound of tutti.

Average performance of this work needs approximately 10 minutes.[5]

Transcriptions

The work is transcribed for concert band by Bruce Houseknecht. This band version was published in 1967 by Carl Fischer, Inc.

Notes
  1. Kennedy, p.342
  2. Moore, p.177
  3. Moore, p.225
  4. Moore, p.179
  5. Foreman, Lewis (1989). Elgar: The Kingdom (PDF) (Media notes). Colchester, England: Chandos Records. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.

References
  • Kennedy, Michael (1987). Portrait of Elgar (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-284017-7.
  • Moore, Jerrold Northrop (1984). Edward Elgar: A Creative Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-315447-1.
  • Porte, J. F. (1921). Sir Edward Elgar. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Turner & Co. Ltd.
  • Score, Elgar: Sursum Corda, B. Schott's Söhne, 1901
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.