Edward Elgar
Chanson de nuit, Chanson de matin op. 15 for Violoncello and Piano
Like Elgar’s Salut d’amour, the two “chansons” are amongst his most popular melodies. The dreamy Chanson de nuit and its cheerful counterpart Chanson de matin are often performed together.
Composer and publisher already sensed that this “evergreen” would build on the success of Elgar’s Salut d’amour, and they similarly planned arrangements of this pair of works for various instruments. Not all of them came from Elgar’s own pen, although the cello arrangement probably does, for he himself wrote to the publisher “A cello arrangement should be useful: I have written it where necessary in the tenor clef: I understand that amateurs of small attainments prefer the treble clef”. He was thus consciously aiming his arrangement at amateurs, something that should not prevent advanced and professional cellists from revelling in these charming melodies in Henle’s Urtext edition.
About the Composer
Edward Elgar
Most important English composer of his day. His immense oeuvre comprises numerous choral works, songs with piano and orchestral accompaniment, several stage works, orchestral music of a mostly programmatic character, a few works of chamber music in his last phase, and works for piano and organ.
| 1857 | Born in Broadheath (Worcester) on June 2, the son of a music dealer. First attempts at composition at ten years of age. He is largely an autodidact with rich practical experience. |
| from mid-1870 | He plays in various orchestras in Worcester, including the Worcester Philharmonic Society as well as the Festival Orchestra (under the direction of A. Dvořák and others). From 1878 some of his compositions are performed (sometimes for the first time). |
| from 1882 | He serves variously as conductor of the Worcester Amateur Instrumental Society and the newly founded Worcestershire Philharmonic Society (1889–1904). |
| 1889 | Moves to London. |
| 1889–1903 | Cantata, “The Black Knight,” Op. 25. |
| 1890 | Premiere of the overture “Froissart,” Op. 19, as his first major work. |
| 1891 | Moves to Malvern; activities in the countryside. |
| 1896 | Oratorio, “The Light of Life (Lux Christi),” Op. 29. |
| 1897–99 | “Sea-Pictures,” Op. 37, for contralto and orchestra. |
| after 1897 | He composes works for ceremonial occasions for the English royal court. |
| 1898–99 | Enigma Variations, Op. 36, a musical portrayal of fourteen of his friends. |
| 1899–1900 | Oratorio, “The Dream of Gerontius,” Op. 38, serves as a watershed moment. He receives numerous honors, including honorary doctorates in 1900 and 1907, and in 1911 the Order of Merit. |
| 1901–06 | Oratorios “The Kingdom,” Op. 51, and “The Apostles,” Op. 49. |
| 1904–08 | Professorship at the University of Birmingham. |
| 1908 | Premiere of his Symphony No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 55; the pinnacle of his success, with 84 performances by 1909. |
| 1909/10 | Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61, the first significant English concerto. |
| 1911 | Premiere of his Symphony No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 63, enjoys little success. |
| 1912 | He moves to London. |
| 1913 | Symphonic study, “Falstaff,” Op. 68. |
| 1918 | Chamber music works, including the Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, Op. 82; the String Quartet in E minor; the Piano Quintet in A minor. |
| 1918–19 | Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, a late magnum opus. |
| 1934 | Dies in Worcester on February 23. |
About the Authors
Claus Kanngiesser (Fingering and bowing for Violoncello)
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