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]
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 edit
The work is scored for strings, 2 trumpets in B♭, 4 horns in F, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and organ.
Structure edit
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
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
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 edit
The work has been transcribed for concert band by Bruce Houseknecht. This version was published in 1967 by Carl Fischer, Inc.
Notes edit
- ^ a b Kennedy, p.342
- ^ Moore, p.177
- ^ Moore, p.225
- ^ Moore, p.179
- ^ a b 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 edit
- 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
External links edit
- Sursum corda: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Sursum corda on website from Elgar Society
- Sursum corda at AllMusic