Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO, was an English composer born on June 2, 1857, in Broadheath, Worcestershire, England. He passed away on February 23, 1934, in Worcester, Worcestershire. Elgar is renowned for his contributions to the British and international classical concert repertoire, with famous works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies.

Elgar’s music, which is characterized by bold tunes, striking color effects, and mastery of large forms, played a significant role in the renaissance of English music during the late 19th-century Romanticism era2. Despite being largely self-taught as a composer, Elgar achieved great success and recognition, particularly with his Enigma Variations in 1899 and the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius in 1900.

His life and work were marked by a sense of being an outsider; he was a Roman Catholic in Protestant Britain, and he was sensitive about his humble origins even after gaining fame. Nevertheless, Elgar’s legacy continues, with his music still played more frequently in Britain than elsewhere, and his influence on the classical music scene remains significant.