American History and Encyclopedia of Music (Volume 7) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1910. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS The "Dream of Gerontius" was the work which established the fame of Sir Edward Elgar, serving it as did for the expression of his first fully developed ideas. He was commissioned to write a long choral work for the Birmingham Triennial Festival of 1900, and on the morning of October 3 a setting of Cardinal Newman's poem was produced. It made a profound impression, although the public was naturally a little cautious in its attitude toward a comparatively unknown composer and a work whose very originality militated against its entire success. Though finished to fulfill the commission, the "Dream of Gerontius" was in point of fact the result of many years' meditation. Father Knight of Worcester had presented a copy of the poem to Elgar at the time of his marriage in 1889. It appealed strongly to him and the desire to give it adequate musical form seems to have taken immediate possession of him. He is said by no means to be the only composer to cherish this ambition, but he is at least the first to bring it to fruition. In 1902 Elgar received the unusual compliment of an invitation to present the "Dream of Gerontius" at the very conservative Lower Rhine Festival at Dusseldorf. No Englishman had been so honored in seventy years. This very significant paragraph from a German pen appeared upon the Festival programs: "Ever since the far-off times of the great madrigal composers, England has played but a modest part in the concert of the great musical powers. For the products of the musical mind is has depended almost entirely on importation, and has exported nothing but works of a lighter order." The critical Germans were delighted with the oratorio, and at the close of the presentation, Richard Strauss, foremost of German composers, rose to pay t...