Sir Edward Elgar & Asteroid 4818 Elgar - The University of Birmingham - Edgbaston, Birmingham, U.K. - Extraterrestrial Locations on Waymarking.com

Sir Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934)

Sir Edward Elgar, composer, became the University of Birmingham's first Professor of Music in 1905, some five years after the university received its Royal Charter.

The plaque can be found to the right of the Bramhall Music Building on a brick column which is situated to the right of a flight of steps.

Sir Edward is perhaps best remembered for his symphonies, his 'Engima' Variations, Link his oratorio 'The Dream of Gerontius', Link -based on Cardinal Newman's poem about a soul's journey Link and his 'Pomp and Circumstance' marches Link (the March No. 1 "Land of Hope and Glory" is regularly performed at the Last Night of the Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London).

"Edward Elgar was the greatest late Romantic composer in Britain and one of the greatest in Europe. He was born at Broadheath and cut his teeth in nearby Worcester, learning to paly the piano, violin and organ and composing for various ensembles (which he conducted), before joining an orchestra in Birmingham in 1882. Seven years later he was married at the Brompton Oratory and moved to London, but he soon returned to Worcestershire, where he derived inspiration from the Malvern Hills and the banks of the River Severn.

Having attaracted attention in the 1890's, he achieved a breakthrough in June 1890, when Hans Richter Link conducted his Variations on an Original Theme ('Enigma') at St. James's Hall, London. Link One year later, in Birmingham Town Hall, Richter conducted his oratorio 'The Dream of Gerontius', based on the poem by John Henry Newman. Link The disappointed of this under-prepared premiere was diluted by later, successful performances and by further commissions for the Birmingham Triennial Festival notably 'The Apostiles' (1930) and 'The Kingdom' (1960).

In 1904 the local {Birmingham} businessman and philanthropist Richard Peyton offered the University £10,000 to endow a Chair of Music on condition 'that it should in the first instance be offered to and accepted by Sir Edward Elgar'. Elgar, who had been knighted earlier that year, eventually accepted and his appointment took effect on 1 January 1905.

His inaugural lecture, 'A Future for English Music', was delivered on 16 March and was followed by seven other lectures in 1905-6. But he was not suited to academic life, his lectures did not go down well, and he resigned on 29 August 1908. In addition to the works cited he composed two symphonies, two concertos (for violin and cello), chamber music, and the choral ode 'The Music Makers', of which he gave the autogrpahed score to the University.

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Asteroid 4818 Elgar