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Edward Elgar

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

Instrumentation#

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

Structure#

Adagio solenne, B major, The work begins with B 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 \ ( d32) d4( c16) c\ After the climax, the music calms down. A new material is provided in the dialogue between organ and strings following the B call (Excerpt 2). Excerpt 2 : \relative c’ \new Staff \with \remove “Time_signature_engraver” \key bes \major \time 2/4 \tempo “Poco più mosso.” 8.\mf ^\markup (Org) ( 16 d, ) s2 8. ^\markup (Org) ( 16 f, ) \ 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.

Transcriptions#

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

References#

        • Score, Elgar: Sursum Corda, B. Schott’s Söhne, 1901
    • Sursum corda on website from Elgar Society *
Composer
Edward Elgar